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Resolved Question

Taking ownership of a file

by Mar 4, 2012 3:59AM PST

Hello

I need to take ownership of a file (relating to Avast anti-virus) in order to be able to remove it from Add/Remove in the Control Panel and also to remove its directory from Program Files on my C drive.

I have to do this through the Cmd Prompt and act as administrator. I have right-clicked on the Cmd Prompt and get this (which is what I ought to see):

C:\windows\system32>

What I am not sure about is the path to the directory (or folder) that I want to delete: I don't know the syntax. And, can I delete the entire folder in one go, or do I need to remove it contents file by file?

Many thanks.

Steve

Discussion is locked

SteHigh has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
4 Posts
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Best Answer

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Re: take ownership
by Forum moderator Mar 4, 2012 4:36AM PST

Just yesterday I uninstalled Avast from an XP computer. I simply used Control Panel>Software and it went flawlessly, although I had to delete the Program Files\Alwil folder afterwards myself, because it still contained a few files. No need to take ownership.

Why doesn't that work with you? Something must be wrong with your system. What happens?

Kees

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Reply
by SteHigh Mar 4, 2012 5:40AM PST

Hello

I get an 'avast! Setup Fatal Error', that says when I try to uninstall it in Add/Remove Programs:

'Error reading product data from "C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\".
Setup cannot continue.'

When I click on the OK button, Windows prompts me to uninstall Avast using
the 'recommended settings', so I say OK again. Then I get the following Error:

'avast!
A setiface error has occured: 2'


If I am right in saying, that's why I need to 'own' the file as an administrator.

Thanks

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Avast
by Bob__B Mar 4, 2012 7:47PM PST
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Thanks!
by SteHigh Mar 4, 2012 10:19PM PST

Hello Bob B

Thanks for your reply.

The link to Avast did the trick!

Cheers!

Steve

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