This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(224.00000000000003, 8%, 31%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ECP%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In October, I had contacted Microsoft support regarding my concern about not being able to access any of my files on my external drive.
I tinkered with the security settings in the properties tab and managed to get access to the files present in the drive. But I was still unable to paste files to the drive or delete the files in the drive, however I could copy the files from the drive.
Now, I am unable to paste files to the drive or delete files from any external drive that i connect to my laptop. Only my SD card which has always been inserted in the laptop has full access for copy, paste and deletion.
It is strange this is affecting more than one external drive if you only changed security permissions on one drive.
Right click that external drive and select Properties.
Select the Security tab on the resulting dialog, then click Advanced.
Please provide a screenshot of the next window.
Hi,
The new Drives I am inserting, (currently a Pendrive), doesnt have a security tab.
It still asks for Administrator permissions
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(99.2, 78%, 19%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ESB%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
can't copy pest data from internal drive to external drive
Ohk, So I have to take ownership by: 2 and 3 (download registeries for adding "take ownership" to the context menu) and then just run them. I cannot format this drive as theres upwards of 600GB data on it, I dont have another drive to save this data to.
Also, windows didnt allow me to format the other pendrive on my device, I did format it on another device and set it to NTFS.
In that case, if that process was also unsuccessful, the only option will be to copy off any data you need from that drive, then perform a format on the drive and copy the data back onto the drive.
But what about all other drives, any drive I enter I do not have permission to modify.
Its like everything is read/copy only.
I already formatted the pendrive from another PC, that didnt work either on my laptop. I cannot paste the things back to that pendrive using my laptop.
In that case, if this is affecting all drivers, you may have originally changed something that is blocking access to all USB storage devices, the only option may be to either reset Windows or clean install Windows to undo the original changes you made.
Ok, reset it is then.
thanks.
Are you able to copy off any data from that USB drive, then format it and choose 'NTFS' as the file system, then are you able to access that drive?
Yes, I can copy data from the device and save it locally.
I'll format it now and let you know the result
Okay, please ensure you set it the NTFS when it is being formatted.
Now I am getting an error saying "windows was unable to complete the format"
I selected the following:
If you connect that USB up to another PC, are you able to access that drive and copy files to and from that USB?
I don't know
Don't have access to another PC right now.
I'll try in a while.
But, why is this happening to all drives, is there something to I need to change from device security settings? This happened with 3 other USB drives too
You indicated at the start your adjusted security settings, what were the exact steps you performed?
I do not recall much but,
I gave SYSTEM, myself (my email ID) and Administrators(PCname\Administrators) as group to have all permissions.
Kept owner as Chirag Pendharkar (email ID)
On the drive you have previously changed the permissions on, set the Owner of the drive in the security section to a user named Everyone save that setting and check if you can then use that drive.
doing it,
setting security info takes a long time as it has 600GB used.
i'll update on completion
Okay, I will be here.
Now I get this,
Thats Administrators
You cannot manually delete a Windows.Old folder, that needs to be removed using Disk Cleanup, is that folder on an external drive, how did that folder get there, that is meant to be on the C drive, or was that drive originally the C drive?
Yes It was on C-Drive,
I had moved it to this external drive for emergency reasons.
Now I have removed the Windows.old from C-drive already, and am trying to delete it from external drive now
This folder was just an example, I cannot cut-paste anything from this drive, I can only copy-paste. I cannot make changes to the contents already present in the drive, and I cannot remove/delete contents of the drive.
Try using the steps Shawn provides on this link to add TakeOwnership to the right click menu in File Explorer, then right click that Windows.Old folder, select 'Take Ownership to see if you can then delete it.
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3841-add-take-ownership-context-menu-windows-10-a.html
If this does not resolve the problem, how much data is on that drive?
.
.
.
Standard Disclaimer: 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,
I did it I gave myself the ownership.
It still doesnt work.
Same errors
Also, windows didnt allow me to format the other pendrive on my device, I did format it on another device and set it to NTFS.
And I still cannot paste anything to that drive
