takeown problem

Hi

I have Windows 10 v1511 Enterprise 64 bit with two Microsoft account.

From the Command Prompt (run as administrator), I tried to write

Code:

takeown /S localhost /U "<Microsoft_account_(E-Mail_Address)>" /P <User_password>" /F "<Directory_path>" /R /A /D Y

but I get the "Access Denied" error. Why?

Thanks

Bye

If I write the net user command, the profile names of the Microsoft accounts are displayed.

If, however, I write

Code:

takeown /S localhost /U "<Account_profile_name>" /P "<Password>" /F "<Directory_path>" /R /A /D Y

Windows indicates that this user does not exist.

Also, if I try to activate the hidden administrator

Code:

net user Administrator /Active:yes
net user Administrator "<Password>"

and then I try to write

Code:

takeown /S localhost /U Administrator /P "<Password>" /F "<Directory_path>" /R /A /D Y

Windows always indicates that this user does not exist.

So, how should I use the /U option of takeown?

Thanks

Bye

lx07 said:

The /U switch is only applicable to remote computers and so you are trying to change the ownership on a remote computer called localhost which almost certainly doesn't exist.

Even if you specify the name of your local PC (not localhost) you'll get an error WARNING: User credentials cannot be used for local connections.

It isn't clear what you are attempting here as you seem to be trying to change the owner to the built in Administrator user and also the Administrators group with the /A switch.

Assuming you want to change the owner to built in administrator you have various options.

Code:

runas /user:Administrator "takeown /F "<file path> /R""

or, if you prefer probably a better solution is

Code:

icacls "<folder path>" /setowner Administrator /t

If, from the command prompt (run as administrator), I had to write

Code:

takeown /F "<Directory_path>" /R /A /D Y
icacls "<Directory_path>\*" /setowner Administrators /t
icacls "<Directory_path>\*" /grant:r Administrators:F /t
del /s /q "<Directory_path>\*.*"
pushd "<Directory_Path>" && ( rd /S /Q "<Directory_Path>\" 2>nul & popd )

I could delete the entire content of the directory structure even if its owner does not have read rights? If not, how do I remove this content?

Thanks

Bye

I always get the "Access Denied" error when I run the commands icacls. Why?

It is possible to delete all the DACLs of this subdirectory, its files and its subdirectories and then give them those of its home directory? If so, how do I do this?

Thanks

Bye

I think I found the best solution to remove a directory structure which also contains symbolic links and with ACLs managed by TrustedInstaller or Authenticated Users or System users:

Code:

takeown /F "<Directory_path>" /A /R /D Y /SKIPSL >nul 2>&1
icacls "<Directory_path>" /reset
icacls "<Directory_path>" /grant:r Administrators:(OI)(CI)F /inheritance:e /Q /C /T /L >nul 2>&1
pushd "<Directory_path>" && ( rd /S /Q "<Directory_path>" 2>nul & popd )

Many thanks to all

Bye

lx07 said:

Glad you got it working

Are you sure about that first command though?

Perhaps you aren't using English but /D S means you are defaulting S. Should it not be Y or N?

Right. Now, I correct it.

Thanks

Bye