Deleting Protected Folders in Vista

Conrad11 · 17 Mar 2008 at 17:39

Hi there,

I have two folders from a dud vista installation that i want to delete, but vista is saying:

"Do not have permission"

How do I get around the permissions to be able to delete the folders? I have tried unlocker 1.8.6 to no avail.

Thanks.

superplay · 17 Mar 2008 at 17:42

What are the folders?

The chances are that you are not the owner of the file.folder. Right click the folder / properties/security/advanced/owner selct your usename and then apply.

Conrad11 · 17 Mar 2008 at 17:48

Two folders are "Windows" and "Program Files".

It won't let me take control of them or delete them.

Tried deleting them under the administrator account too.

Bomag · 17 Mar 2008 at 20:34

superplay said:
The chances are that you are not the owner of the file.folder. Right click the folder / properties/security/advanced/owner selct your usename and then apply.

The owner will be the system not the administrator. The above solution will change it.

Conrad11 · 17 Mar 2008 at 20:49

Bomag said:
The owner will be the system not the administrator. The above solution will change it.

Ok - i have taken control of them. I am now the owner, but it still isn't letting me delete them.

Stonedofmoo · 18 Mar 2008 at 08:14

Now you're the owner you can add your account to the folders with full access. Then replace the file and folder permissions below using one of the tickboxes under the edit button.

Jobs a goodun

Conrad11 · 18 Mar 2008 at 09:40

Stonedofmoo said:
Now you're the owner you can add your account to the folders with full access. Then replace the file and folder permissions below using one of the tickboxes under the edit button.

Jobs a goodun

I have done that already, but i think its a different error message now.

Its saying "Destrination Folder Access Denied" in the title and then the mesage is "You need permission..."

bledd · 18 Mar 2008 at 09:50

are they on your main hard drive?

(are they in use?) i can't see what could have happened..

Snakedoctor · 18 Mar 2008 at 09:52

Try using Disk cleanup and select old windows installs

Conrad11 · 18 Mar 2008 at 10:13

bledd. said:
are they on your main hard drive?

(are they in use?) i can't see what could have happened..

Only have 1 hard drive split in two partitions, both with plenty of space.

Turophobic said:
Try using Disk cleanup and select old windows installs

Tried that - nothing....

bledd · 18 Mar 2008 at 10:14

so the 2nd partition has these files on?

Take Control might work..

http://www.msfn.org/board/XPero-s-utilities-t82191.html

never used it though, not sure if it supports folders

Snakedoctor · 18 Mar 2008 at 10:18

I found with folders like these types, I could delete the contents, but not the folders. You should be able to save some space by going into them and deleting.

Conrad11 · 18 Mar 2008 at 13:50

bledd. said:
so the 2nd partition has these files on?

Take Control might work..

http://www.msfn.org/board/XPero-s-utilities-t82191.html

never used it though, not sure if it supports folders

2nd partition the files are on - correct.

Take control doesn't appear to work with folders.

Turophobic said:
I found with folders like these types, I could delete the contents, but not the folders. You should be able to save some space by going into them and deleting.

Can't delete the contents either - same error message.

bledd · 18 Mar 2008 at 13:52

can you copy the things you need from that drive and format it?

Conrad11 · 18 Mar 2008 at 14:26

Ok don't beat me up but, I was playing around with the whole ownership and permissions screens and it appears I have taken control and full permissions over the folder, but not its contents....that's why I couldn't delete it.

....but i have managed to delete them now....

....in my defence, I have never done the "take control of files/folders/permissions" thing before.

Thanks people for your help.

JohnRoss · 15 Dec 2008 at 22:48

was about to post asking same thing then realised i should search

cheers lads