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I downloaded a file from the internet (I can link to it here, but in the interests of not annoying other users, I won't post the link), and I can't delete the file with the message:

You need permission to perform this action You require permission from the computer's administrator to make changes to this file

Trouble is, I am the administrator and UAC is completely off.

If I go into the Properties/Security tab, I get the message

You do not have permission to view or edit this object's permission settings

Clicking "Advanced"/Owner, it says:

Current owner: Unable to display current owner.

If i try to change the owner, I get the same message:

Unable to set new owner on file Access is denied.
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3
  • 2
    Did you check if its being used by another process?
    – Sevki
    Commented Dec 6, 2009 at 16:18
  • 4
    Using chkdsk /f in cmd in parent folder of it. I try and success!
    – Vuongg
    Commented Sep 23, 2014 at 6:04
  • Try rebooting the system. Sometimes when a file or folder is already sort of deleted, but still locked by some driver, it remains visible but inaccessible. After system reboot such files and folders go away.
    – Roland Pihlakas
    Commented Jul 15, 2022 at 0:55

7 Answers 7

Reset to default
45

Give Unlocker a try. If there is any open file handle it will let you close it so you can successfully delete the file.

alt text

If that doesn't work for some reason, try BootDeleter. It will delete the file for you upon reboot, before Windows has a chance to lock it on you.

alt text

Both utilities are freeware.

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8
  • 1
    Boot deleter did it. ty.
    – bobobobo
    Commented Dec 7, 2009 at 6:45
  • Boot deleter worked awesome!
    – Jorin
    Commented Aug 18, 2011 at 14:30
  • 7
    Unlocker installs the Delta-toolbar and default search engine crap in all your internet browsers: superuser.com/questions/645329/… The "Recent Changes" feature in recent builds of the "Everything" file-system search engine allows you to see what other things Delta Search has broken: forum.voidtools.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2129
    – Jeroen Wiert Pluimers
    Commented Sep 18, 2013 at 8:22
  • 7
    To extend on @Jeroen's true comment: some 3rd party download sites even wrap more into the installer. Getting it from the Unlocker website gets one a 393K exe that already includes "Promotional feature: Fully optional Delta toolbar" since version 1.9.2. But a download from MajorGeeks is even 1.0M for the same version; who knows what that things installs...
    – Arjan
    Commented Apr 26, 2014 at 20:20
  • 1
    I have found LockHunter first, and hoping that performs a similar task well enough as Unlocker. Maybe even better without the adware? I have also just used a link that explained Computer Management having an Open Files view, and neither method showed any locks in my weird ownership security / lack of permissions bug in my folder case.
    – Pysis
    Commented Dec 21, 2017 at 3:42
26

Sometimes it just won't let you change permissions because some process is using the file, or if you are trying to edit a folder's properties, then a process has a file that is within that dir or subdir open.

I had the problem described today, and I solved it by opening Process Explorer. Then, I went to the "Find" Menu, and selected the "Find Handle or DLL" option. In the dialog that comes up, I searched for the name of the folder I was having issues with. The search results told me which process had an open file within the folder. I killed the process, and then I had no problems with that folder's permissions.

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2
  • 1
    Sometimes when IIS failed compilation of a web site DLL, administrator cannot delete or even change permission of the resulting file. Process explorer search also turns out empty. Doing iisreset in the command console unlocks the file, and strangely deletes it too, allowing us to recompile the file.
    – YudhiWidyatama
    Commented Apr 9, 2014 at 12:47
  • Certain applications, like Visual Studio, locks dirs in this way under circumstances which are a complete mystery (to me). Using Process Explorer (ctrl+F in it) and then closing all instances of VS I was able to finally remove some of these odd locked directories.
    – Grubl3r
    Commented Nov 16, 2017 at 10:45
11

Try Ultimate Windows Tweaker, which adds a "take ownership" element to the context menu.

alt text

Portable application, does not require an install.

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  • 6
    This tool will not solve the problem. The underlying security issue is that Windows does not consider the user to have sufficient rights to take ownership, and this tool, while convenient, cannot subvert that.
    – Gavin
    Commented May 20, 2014 at 8:56
  • 2
    @Gavin What privilege do Administrators not have that they need to be granted? Under what circumstances would Windows not consider an Administrator as having insufficient rights to take ownership?
    – Ian Boyd
    Commented Jan 28, 2015 at 15:17
  • @IanBoyd When another process is using the file/folder, Windows will give authority to the process rather than the admin (as it seems, I don't know the inner reasons of this weird behavior).
    – gaborous
    Commented Sep 19, 2016 at 10:04
2

============================================================================ REPORTED ISSUE - Cannot take ownership of an NTFS folder via standard method

Folder Properties \ Security TAB \ Advanced button \ Change Owner

.

REPORTED ISSUE - CANNOT DELETE FOLDER or FILES,

.

========

SCENARIO

I get each time I try to perform ANY function with an NTFS folder called 'templates'.

CURENT RESULT - INFO: Access is denied. ( "G:\OLD Drive\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio x\ VC\VCWizards\CodeWiz.NET\Component\templates" )

============

TEST1 - FAIL

Followed enclosed instructions under proposed solution -

Download PsExec.exe from Sysinternals

C:\Windows\system32>TAKEOWN /F "G:\OLD Drive\Program Files" /R /D Y

===================================

RESULT (see INFO in last statement)

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "G:\OLD Drive\Program Files" now owned by user "P
CDGROUP\PCD$".

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "G:\OLD Drive\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Stud
io 8" now owned by user "PCDGROUP\PCD$".

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "G:\OLD Drive\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Stud
io 8\VC" now owned by user "PCDGROUP\PCD$".

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "G:\OLD Drive\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Stud
io 8\VC\VCWizards" now owned by user "PCDGROUP\PCD$".

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "G:\OLD Drive\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Stud
io 8\VC\VCWizards\CodeWiz" now owned by user "PCDGROUP\PCD$".

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "G:\OLD Drive\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Stud
io 8\VC\VCWizards\CodeWiz\.NET" now owned by user "PCDGROUP\PCD$".

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "G:\OLD Drive\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Stud
io 8\VC\VCWizards\CodeWiz\.NET\Component" now owned by user "PCDGROUP\PCD$".

INFO: Access is denied. ( "G:\OLD Drive\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\
VC\VCWizards\CodeWiz\.NET\Component\templates" )

C:\Windows\system32>

==========

CONCLUSION

Problem not resolved

===============

TEST2 - SUCCESS

CAVEAT - I was only able to succeed here because the folder sits on a drive that is not my primary boot (c:) and as such could be safely taken offline. I ensured all windows were closed before actioning.

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.10586]
(c) 2015 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32> cd "G:\OLD Drive\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\VCWizards\CodeWiz\.NET\Component"

C:\Windows\system32>G:

G:\OLD Drive\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\VCWizards\CodeWiz\.NET\Component>chkdsk /f
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Cannot lock current drive.

Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another
process.  Chkdsk may run if this volume is dismounted first.
ALL OPENED HANDLES TO THIS VOLUME WOULD THEN BE INVALID.
Would you like to force a dismount on this volume? (Y/N) Y
Volume dismounted.  All opened handles to this volume are now invalid.
Volume label is DATABAK.

Stage 1: Examining basic file system structure ...
  986368 file records processed.
File verification completed.
  12 large file records processed.
  0 bad file records processed.

Stage 2: Examining file name linkage ...
  1261166 index entries processed.
Index verification completed.
  0 unindexed files scanned.
  0 unindexed files recovered to lost and found.

cd..

G:\OLD Drive\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\VC\VCWizards\CodeWiz\.NET\

rd Component

======================================================

RESULT - The Component folder was successfully removed

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1

I have had this issue a couple of times. Closing and restarting explorer resolved the issue. A quick and dirty solution, but it worked. http://www.howtogeek.com/198815/use-this-secret-trick-to-close-and-restart-explorer.exe-in-windows/

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0

I have the same frustrating problem, I used every advice on this thread.

finally I used this small fantastic program to delete the file: Unlocker 1.9.2

https://www.filecroco.com/download-file/download-unlocker/104/95/

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0

Right click on file and choose "Permissions" then click the "Security" tab at top. Click on "Advance" tab. You will see (Owner: Unable to display current owner.) then click Change In the open space type "users" that is "USERS" and click the "ok" then "ok" to close all open properties windows. Now right click on file again, then "Properties" and select "Security" tab once more. In window of "Group or user names" To change permissions, click Edit then you click the "ADD" button and type USERS in the permission for users window below check the "Allow full control" box then click apply. Click "Ok" and close out of all windows That should do it.

Hope that helps

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