Windows displays an error message when you try to delete or modify a folder or a file? Some settings are enough to find access rights and authorizations in order to handle it as you wish.
In Windows, even users with an administrator account do not have all the rights. Indeed, the system locks up certain sensitive folders and files which it considers preferable not to leave free access, including the administrators of the PC. The opening, modification or deletion of the folder is then impossible and, when you try to handle a “protected” file, Windows displays an error message of the type “You must have an authorization to carry out this action”. Frustrating!
Fortunately, even if the system complicates the task to you, it is of course possible to appropriate the file and modify the access rights, at least under certain conditions:
- You must connect to Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 10) with a administrator.
- The method we indicate to you work with storage media formatted in NtfsWindows favorite file system. The supports formatted in FAT32 or exfat do not offer the tab Security in Properties of a folder or a file, so the method does not work.
- Under Windows XP family or professional, to have access to the tab Security in Properties of the folder, restart for example the computer by safe mode.
The first thing to do is modify the owner of the file or folder.
- In theFile explorerright -click on the folder or file and select Properties.
- Click on the tab Securityat the top of the window, then on the button Advance, At the bottom of the window.
- The window Advanced safety settings Indicates the Owner current file (Trusted on the example above). We will replace it with your username. To the right of the owner’s name, click on the link To modify.
- In the new window that opens, press the button Advance…
- To ask Windows to list all the user accounts referenced on this computer, press the button To research.
- Just below, the area Research results Fills: it lists all user accounts, select the one with which you usually connect to Windows (Lea on our example) then press the button OK.
- Your username must appear in the user or group selection window. If this is the case, click the button OK.
- In the window Advanced safety settingscheck the box Replace the owner of sub-controllers and objects And press, at the bottom, the button Apply.
- The message of Windows security Who is displayed tells you that, for the folder or file in question (“This object “), you must close all the properties of properties still open by pressing the OK button each time, before you can reopen them to modify the access authorizations! Press the button OK as many times as necessary. Here you are back in Windows file explorer.
The other operation to be performed is to modify the access rights to the file or the folder.
- As you did at the very beginning of this practical sheet, in theFile explorerright -click on the folder or file and, in the context menu, click on Properties. In the properties window, you know the path to reach advanced safety settings: click on the tab Security at the very top, and on the button Advance at the bottom.
- The window of Advanced safety settings must mention you as Owner (Leaon our example). At the bottom of the tab Authorizationspress the button Add.
- In the authorization window, click on the link Select a principal.
- You know how to declare your user account, you did it right now: press the button Advanced…
- Press the button as much To research.
- The list below is filled: select your user account and press OK.
- If the username is correct, press the button OK.
- Back in the window Authorizationscheck the box Total control Then press the button OK.
- You are finally going back to the window of Advanced safety settings ! One last effort: check the box Replace all the authorization entries for children’s objects with authorization entries that may be inherited from this object. Press the button OK.
- A new message asks you for a final confirmation, answer Yes.
- The actions that have so far been refused on the folder or file (rename, delete, open, etc.) are now accepted.