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Suddenly unable to save files into Documents folder

Anonymous
2020-05-20T04:07:44+00:00

Recently, some of the applications on my computer are unable to save files to folders in the Documents directory. It started with Notepad and Paint. Now I can't create and save in Paint 3D either. I was successfully using the Snipping Tool to copy and save images from those programs, but today I can't save new snips either... I can save newly created files to the Downloads folder only, but I'm not able to move them into their proper folders. I get this Error when I try to move Files from Downloads to any Documents folder:

Destination Folder Access Denied

You'll need to provide Administrator Permission to move to this folder

It provides a Continue button with the Admin shield on it, but when I click on that it errors again, with the only options being Try Again or Cancel. The only option that works is Cancel:

Destination Folder Access Denied

You need permission to perform this action

I am the only user of this Computer, and I have changed NO Property or Permission Settings on it whatsoever, save for allowing Windows Updates.

Even when I run these programs in Administrator mode (tho I'm already logged in as Admin), they will not save. I get this message, as though I'm trying to open a doc instead of save one:

Save As

C:\Users\Laurie\Documents\Test.txt

File Not Found

Check the name and try again

Things I've tried so far:

  1. Restart Windows Explorer & rebooted computer - No change
  2. CMD - Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth (also /ScanHealth & /RestoreHealth)
  3. CMD - sfc/scannow & Rebooted - All DOS Commands completed successfully - No Fix

Prior to these actions, I was able to open existing docs or pics, change and save them. Now I can't even do that.

I notice on my Documents folder Attributes: Read Only is checked. I un-checked it, Applied, and Saved, but when I look again, Read Only is checked again. It's not Applying my change. Actually, the Downloads Folder also has Read Only checked as well, but I am allowed to save to it. And the Security Tab Permissions are identical on both folders...

My Folders and Documents no longer belong to me somehow. Any help to resolve this issue will be greatly appreciated.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-05-22T08:59:45+00:00

    It seems the rot is spreading. In my many years of working with Windows I have never come across such a phenomenon. If this was my machine then I would pull the plug and go for a complete re-installation of Windows.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-05-21T04:14:46+00:00

    I did SAFE Mode, was able to save files to Documents folder there. Also the DOS Commands succeeded in SAFE Administrator Mode.

    Went back to FULL Mode, and still unable to save files to the Documents folder.

    I ran a full Windows Security scan, no threats detected

    I downloaded and scanned with Malwarebytes, 17 threats were detected and quarantined. It required a reboot, and the program popped back up after I logged in. Offered me a report in Text form, which I was not able to save in the Documents folder... I also re-tried the DOS Commands in FULL Administrator Mode, which both failed once again.

    Incidentally, I right-clicked an image on a website in my browser, selected Save Image As, and was able to save it to my Documents folder...

    I have created a workaround, a New Documents folder in C:\ that I can save files to. (Downloads folder is getting full!)

    Thank you Frederik for all of your suggestions, this one is a real head-scratcher!

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-05-20T07:49:06+00:00

    Sounds like some malware action. You can try this:

    1. Create a desktop shortcut for cmd.exe.
    2. Right-click this shortcut, then left-click "Run as administrator".
    3. Accept the challenge. You will get a black frame.
    4. Type these commands and press Enter after each:

    takeown  /F  "C:\Users\Laurie\Documents"  /R

    icacls  "C:\Users\Laurie\Documents"  /t  /c  /grant  everyone:F

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-05-21T21:25:42+00:00

    I have done all of the above, rebooted, and checked that all non Microsoft Services were Stopped. Malwarebytes is the only program that is still Running, tho I only installed it yesterday. Not sure why that program did not Disable. Some were already Disabled, like Adobe Flash and Mozilla Maintenance.

    The result is that I am still unable to save to Documents folder.

    So far I'm not seeing any other folders affected, but gradually more Programs are.

    1. It started with Paint in early 2020. I used that program to add Date and Descriptions written on the back of old scanned family photos, to the front of them. Then suddenly I was unable to save them. So I would copy the work I had done in Paint, with an old Snipping Tool program, which would then save to Documents\Pictures. But recently that program has stopped saving there as well. I then tried Paint 3D, but it is affected too.
    2. Notepad is a program I use extensively on this computer. The last .txt doc I was able to save in Documents folder was 4.18.20. Sometime after that, it stopped saving there. Notepad++ was it's replacement, now as of this week it has stopped saving to Documents folder too.
    3. WordPad has been used as well, the last saved document was 4.3.20. It no longer saves.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-05-20T21:48:51+00:00

    Thanks, I tried both, but neither worked.

    takeown  /F  "C:\Users\Laurie\Documents"  /R

    Result: Access is denied.

    icacls  "C:\Users\Laurie\Documents"  /t  /c  /grant  everyone:F

    Result: Successfully processed 0 files; Failed processing 14313 files

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