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General discussion

Help! I cannot access my folder since I changed permissions

Feb 17, 2009 6:09PM PST

Hello, all,

I accidentally set all permissions for one folder on my hard drive to deny. Now I completely lost all access to this folder even if I log in as administrator. I cannot change permissions either.

When I click "Security" tab in "Folder Properties" window, an error message shows "You do not have permissions to view the current permission settings for <folder>, but you can make permission changes."

However, when I tried to give "Full Control" to Administrator, another error message shows "Unable to save permission changes on <folder>. Access is denied"

Does anyone know how to fix this?

Thanks in advance!

- Feng

Discussion is locked

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Try to take ownership.
Feb 17, 2009 6:14PM PST

Google XP TAKE OWNERSHIP and you'll learn how to do it.

Not sure to help, however.

Kees

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See if this helps
Feb 17, 2009 7:10PM PST
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Problem fixed
Feb 18, 2009 9:14AM PST

After looking through some search results returned from Google, I had fixed this problem. Indeed, taking ownership of the folder is the way to do this. Backing up the folder may work as well, but it will probably need more work than the taking ownership approach. Just in case someone run into the same problem, here is exactly what I did.

1. Start Windows XP in safe mode (press F8 at startup)
2. log in as Administrator
3. right click on the folder, then Properties - Security
4. click Advanced, then select Owner tab in the "Advanced Security Settings for <folder>" window
5. Select <owner> from the list, check "replace owner on subcontainers and objects", then click OK

It worked beautifully. I am REALY relieved that I have got all my files back.

Thanks everyone for the help.