Access to C drive is denied, Cannot take ownership, right clicking on it freezes the laptop for 15 sec and access denied message pops up

Hi Shabahat,

The reason why you are unable to take the ownership of the C Drive even though you are the administrator is just because your user account folder is in the C drive to which you have restricted the permission to your administrator account on the computer. Thus, you cannot do anything from this user account to resolve this issue. Let’s try enabling the built-in administrator and check if you are able to assign the ownership and permission to your user account. Please follow these steps:

Enable Built-in Administrator Account

a) Press “Windows Logo” + “X” keys on the keyboard.

b) Select “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu to open the Command Prompt in elevated mode.

c) In the command prompt window, type the following command and press the “Enter” key on the keyboard:

net user administrator /active:yes

d) Type net user administrator password, and then press “ENTER” key. (You should see a message that the command completed successfully.)

e) Type “exit”, and then press “Enter” key.

d) Log off from the current user account and login to the built-in administrator account. (You’ll now see the built-in administrator account as a choice on the login screen).

Important: By default there’s no password for the built–in admin account, so it is not recommended to keep this account enabled. Please follow the same steps and type “net user administrator /active: no” to disable admin account after the troubleshooting is done or you should put a password for this account for security reasons.

After logging into the built-in administrator account on the computer, you may try the steps given in the section “Issue 1: I get an "Access Denied" error message when accessing or working with files and folders” from the article given below:

"Access Denied" or other errors when accessing or working with files and folders in Windows

Hope this is helpful. Please keep us posted on the status of the issue.

Hi 

I have tried the above, it would not give me ownership to C. I cannot recover the system to an earlier point.

It does not freeze at any other point. Only when I try to take ownership of c drive or I am trying to get to change permissions. 

I am currently login in as the administrator. 

I am getting 0800704b3 error and 08007000 error. I cannot install anything and I cannot remove anything from Programs that are currently installed or open them.

Also, going through the recovery options. When click on 'remove all files and restore factory settings'. nothing happens.

The laptop is not freezing permanently either. it freezes only when I am trying to take ownership or trying to change the permission setting so that c becomes accessible. It freezes for 20 sec and then pops up the message. access is denied.

please can you advise how I can take ownership of the c drive.?

thank you

Hello,

I have the same problem and your solution seems reasonable. However, when I try to open the commandline (admin prompt) my access to that is denied.... Typing abovementioned command in a "regular" commandline gives "system error 5". What to do?

Kind regards,

Jaroslaw

Hi Microsoft,

I Need help ! I have restricted access to all authenticated user of C drive.

I have tried using the administration account to do TAKEOWN or even change the permission

Nothing works

When I use take own it give me access denied, when I click change permission the screen freezes.

Help I can't even recover or restore. Nothing works anymore I need those file which are located in the C drive.

Hi Shabahat,

Does your computer freezes only when you try to take permission?

You could face this issue when there is any application which restricts you from opening the C drive. I would suggest you to boot your computer to **Safe Mode**and then follow the steps given under the section Issue 1: I get an "Access Denied" error message when accessing or working with files and folder below for Windows 8.

"Access Denied" or other errors when accessing or working with files and folders in Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2623670/en-us

If your computer freezes randomly then you can follow the steps given below.

Windows 8.1, Windows 8 or Windows 7 hangs or freezes

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2681286/en-us

Important Note: Antivirus software can help protect your computer against viruses and other security threats. In most cases, you shouldn't disable your antivirus software. If you have to temporarily disable it to install other software, you should re-enable it as soon as you're done. If you're connected to the Internet or a network while your antivirus software is disabled, your computer is vulnerable to attacks.

Hope this helps. Write to us, if you still face this issue.