Reset Security on Files

Question

Hey Everyone, 

So a while back I let someone use my computer, but I changed the accessibility the files in my F: drive so that only an administrator account would be able to access them.  Well, now I can't get into them without going to each individual file and setting myself as the owner and allowing myself all permissions.  As you can imagine, I would like a faster way to do this as there are about 450 files left.  

I tried the cmd code given in another post, but that didn't work.  Any suggestions?

I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium

64x bit operating system

**Edit: I miss-typed, I didn't hide them, I changed the accessibility.

Answer 1

I'm sorry, I typed in the wrong thing.  I didn't hide them - I changed it so that only admin accounts can access them.

You need to seize ownership of your folders then give yourself full access rights. There are two options:

The GUI method:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753659.aspx

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727008.aspx

The administrator's method:

1. Log on under an admin account.
2. Click the Start globe.
3. Type  cmd.exe  in the Search box.
4. Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter
5. Click "Run as Administrator".
6. Type the following commands and press Enter after each:

    takeown  /F  F:\  /R

    cacls  F:\  /T  /C  /G  everyone:F

    (answer "Y" when asked "Are you sure?")

Answer 2

Oh my lord that worked beautifully, thank you so much.

Answer 3

I'm sorry, I typed in the wrong thing.  I didn't hide them - I changed it so that only admin accounts can access them and the friend was only on a guest account.  But now on my main account (the only one active, which is admin) I can't get into them.

Answer 4

I hid the files in my F: drive so that the person using them wouldn't be able to get into them.

-> This is about as effective as hiding a child's icecream behind your back. Anyone can unhide files and folders.

I would like a faster way to do this as there are about 450 files left.

-> You could use the administrator's way:

1. Click the Start globe, type cmd.exe in the Search box and press Enter.
2. Type this command exactly and press Enter:

    attrib.exe  -h -s  -r  /s  F:\*.*