I am being denied permission to access a folder

Hi Lydia,

I'm Mario an independent consultant. I'll try to help you with this problem.

I have two procedures that could help to fix or limit the issue that you explain. The first is more quickly but depend on the Windows version that you use and the second maybe is the longest but surely works fine in all Windows version. Please, before starting review the folder path that you need to take as your own. The procedures or steps are the next:

Step 1: Using the takeown command

• In the Search area, type cmd, wait for the next window
• In the next window opens, click on the "Run as Administrator" option
• Click on the Yes button in the confirmation window to make changes to the device
• In the Administrator: Command Prompt type the next commands and hit Enter at end of each one, please replace "foldername" with the folder path:

takeown /f foldername /r /d y

icacls foldername /grant administrators:F /t

• Wait for the command finished
• Verify if the issue is fixed

Step 2: Using the File Manager properties on the foldername (foldername is your folder)

• Using the File Manager find the folder you want to have full access
• Right-click it, and select Properties
• Click the Security tab, then click on the Advanced button
• On the "Advanced Security Settings" window opens, click on the Change link, in the Owner's field
• Click the Advanced button
• On the "Select User or Group" window opens, click on the "Enter the object name to select" field and type your user account and then click the "Check Names" button
• Click OK
• On the "Advanced Security Settings ... " windows, mark "Replace all child object permission entries ...." checkbox
• Click Apply and OK buttons
• Click Apply and OK buttons on the Foldername Properties window
• Click OK one more time to complete this task.

Now you'll need to grant full access control to your account, to do this use the following steps:

• Right-click the file or folder and select Properties
• Click the Security tab to access the NTFS permissions
• Click the Advanced button
• Under the Permissions tab, click Add
• Click Select a principal to add your user account
• On the "Select User or Group" window opens, click on the "Enter the object name to select" field and type your user account and then click the "Check Names" button
• Click OK
• On "Permission Entry", check the Full control option, in the Basic Permissions section, you can review others as Write, modify, etc.
• Click OK
• Click Apply and OK buttons
• Click Apply and OK buttons on the "Foldername" Properties window to close the window

Verify if the issue is fixed

Source as a reference:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-take-ownersh...

I hope to help you. Please, tell me the results.

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

Hi,

You're welcome.. I'm glad to hear that worked for you..

I'm also glad to find out about that trick you discovered.. I had not heard of that one previously..

Hi,

Give this a try.. A bit of a different method to the madness so to speak...

I would suggest that you change the "Owner" to "Everyone" and then add "Everyone" as a User with Full Permissions..

It is possible to Change Ownership of any drive, folder, or file (Exceptions with some system files) by right clicking on it, select Properties, and then the Security Tab at the top.

It is also possible to modify permissions, and add a user with permissions. This may be good enough to solve your problem, but you may need to change OWNERSHIP...which I always do on my machine.

Change Ownership and add OwnerName as a USER

Select Security Tab and then ADVANCED at the bottom.

Here you can edit the permissions for existing users and\or add another..

Click "CHANGE" next to Owner at the top of the window...

Select...

1) Advanced

2) Find Now

3) Select User from list...Your user name, or any you want to add.

4) check the box "Replace Owner On Subcontainers and Objects"

5) Hit "Apply"

Close out of all of the open windows and start over with the Security Tab...

To add a user, right click on EDIT and select ADD....then

1) Advanced

2) Find Now

3) Select User from list...Your user name, or any you want to add.

4) Be sure to grant "FULL" permissions...

For Step 2, in Control Panel when I click on  "Change your account type" and tick the "administrator" option, the Change Account Type button is greyed out so I  cannot change it. But as the User, I am also the Administrator according to my  credentials.

I tried Step 1 again but all I get is

 C:\WINDOWS\system32>takeown /f D:\lost in space complete series 1-3 /r /d y

ERROR: Invalid argument/option - 'in'.

Type "TAKEOWN /?" for usage.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>icacls D:\lost in space complete series 1-3 /grant administrators:F /t

Invalid parameter "in"

Thanks for helping Mario. I'm  afraid I could not solve the  problem. I suspect it is because I cannot follow your instructions carefully enough. I tried Step 1 but kept getting told I  was entering and invalid argument. I was probably entering the commands incorrectly, I don't know whether to enter spaces or not.  For example, is there a space between "takeown" and "/"? And so on..... 

I tried Step 2 and got as far as entering my own user account to get to Permissions but on Permission Entry I am told "You do not have permission to view this object's security properties, even as an administrative user. To  try taking ownership of the object, which includes permission to view its properties, click Change above. But the Change above is already sitting next to my account name! I am essentially back to where I started (in being told to click Change) but now it's in my name and it still won't give me permission.

I could try Step 1 again if the instructions could be made clearer?