Can't delete folder - Windows requires Administrator permission


  1. Posts : 1
    64-bit, windows 10 pro
       #1

    Can't delete folder - Windows requires Administrator permission


    Hi, I have read through all instructions on how to grant myself permission and I am still having problems. I have downloaded totalcommand, installed take ownership, alternative filemanager to delete files using a gui. I have followed these instructions but come to a problem at stage 2, 5 as this part shows that I am already the owner. It doesn't say trustedinstaller is the owner?? it wont allow me to even change owners anyways and when I click take owner ship nothing happens either?? What can I do??

    Give Permission to the folder/drive that you are facing the issue with.

    • In Windows Explorer, right-click the file or folder you want to work with.
    • From the pop-up menu, select Properties, and then in the Properties dialog box click the Security tab.

    In the Name list box, select the user, contact, computer, or group whose permissions you want to view. If the permissions are dimmed, it means the permissions are inherited from a parent object.
    Turn off UAC (User Account Control)

    Before you can do anything, you must turn off the UAC, or you will be locked out of the following steps.

    1) Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> User Accounts
    2) Click "Change User Account Control Settings"
    3) Move slider all the way down to "Never Notify"
    4) Reboot

    2) Take Ownership

    Yes take ownership. Even though you are logged on as an Administrator, you can't change files that don't belong to you. The Program Files folder is set to the Trusted Installer group and the Administrator doesn't have the rights to change anything. So now we have to claim all the files and folders.

    1) Open Windows Explorer
    2) R-Click on Program Files -> Properties -> Security Tab
    3) Click Advanced -> Owner
    4) Click Edit
    5) Select Administrators -> Put a checkmark in Replace owner on subcontainers & objects -> Apply
    6) Wait a while.....
    7) When it finishes, Click OK on all boxes to close everything

    3) Fix Permissions

    Now that you own the files, you have to give yourself permission to modify them

    1) R-Click on Program Files -> Properties -> Security Tab
    2) Click Advanced -> Change Permission
    3) Select Administrators (any entry) -> Edit
    4) Change the Apply To drop down box to This Folder, Subfolder & Files
    5) Put check in Full Control under Allow column -> OK -> Apply
    6) Wait some more.....
    7) When it finishes, the dialog boxes may hide behind the Explorer window. Minimize it and click OK on all the the dialog boxes
    8) Reboot PC.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8,107
    windows 10
       #2

    Welcome to the forum. What folder are you trying to delete?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 10
    Windows 7
       #3

    I am not sure why this happens but there is a workaround.
    To take control of the folder containing the undeletable create a text file called “delete.bat” and add the following lines to it:
    SET DIRECTORY_NAME="C:\Locked Directory"
    TAKEOWN /f %DIRECTORY_NAME% /r /d y
    ICACLS %DIRECTORY_NAME% /grant administrators:F /t
    PAUSE
    You will need to change the directory path to match your requirements e.g. “C:\Locked Directory” to “C:\Delete Me”.
    Right click on the file “delete.bat” select “Run As Administrator” and you should now have full control of the directory and all sub directories meaning you can do what you wish with them.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 16,946
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #4

    Is this a Steam folder? Everybody else with a question like this seems to be.

    Personally, I would boot from an installation disk / System repair disk / Recovery drive and use its Command prompt to go to the folder concerned and delete it.
    When you boot from an external drive you need to use dir etc to identify the drive you need because the drive letters temporarily allocated to drives are not the same as those normally allocated by Windows.

    Or you might also enjoy studying the guidance in https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...a0-5591062ae12

    Denis
      My Computer


 

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