Cannot take ownership of file

[Peter]

Background: I am running Windows Vista Business SP1, with UAC turned off.

Problem: I have approximately 8Gb of video files that I moved to an
external hard disk to free up space. The files moved successfully, but a
copy remains on my main hard disk - and I would like to delete the copy.
However, these files are inaccessable. I cannot delete them or take
ownership of them (and I am a local administrator).

I'm familiar with the standard method of taking ownership in Windows
Explorer, and I simply get an access denied error. I cannot see the current
security defined on the files as I do not have permission to access these
files. Running takeown from a command prompt also gives me an access is
denied error.

Security on the files copied to the external hard disk is correct.

I note that other people are having similar problems, e.g.:
http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3166205&SiteID=17 ,
however in my case these are not files copied from another system.

What appears to have haapened is that the move operation did not complete
successfully and I am left with orphaned unmanagable files that are taking up
considerable hard disk space.

Any advice appreciated.

Thank you,

Peter

 

[Peter]

Update: Problems solved, somehow. I tried to reboot to safe mode to see if
that would give me more options. The laptop seemed to hang up trying to load
drivers getting into safe mode, and eventually gave up and rebooted into
normal mode. Once that had happened, I was able to access and clear the
files from my hard disk. Who knows why? The "shut up and reboot" solution,
I guess.

 

[JABowders]

Peter,

I too have seen that case, where only afeter rebooting can I finish what I
started to do, the UAC still seams to have some control over the operation of
the OS even with it turned OFF.

I contuine to look for ways of gaining control of the Vista OS instead of
the OS controling my actions with it.


James A. Bowders

 

[meerkat]

Peter,

I too have seen that case, where only afeter rebooting can I finish what I
started to do, the UAC still seams to have some control over the operation
of
the OS even with it turned OFF.

I contuine to look for ways of gaining control of the Vista OS instead of
the OS controling my actions with it.

Hi James.
If you want to take Ultimate control of your OS, go have a read here.
I`ve already done this, but I do hide behind a router !.
www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_administrator_activate.htm