Admin can't delete files - help please

[news.microsoft.com]

I'm the admin and only user on my Vista comp and can't delete old files I no
longer want. How do I delete these unwanted files and why don't I have
complete control over my own PC? How do I disable all these unwanted
"safety" features in control of my PC?

 

[Mr. Arnold]

I'm the admin and only user on my Vista comp and can't delete old files I
no longer want. How do I delete these unwanted files and why don't I have
complete control over my own PC? How do I disable all these unwanted
"safety" features in control of my PC?

You're not admin with full rights on Vista with that out of the box
user/admin account that Vista gives you, even if you disable UAC. There is
only one user account that has full admin rights at all times, the same one
that's on XP.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...idden-administrator-account-on-windows-vista/

Now, you could disable Simple File Sharing on Vista, look it up use Google,
to expose the Security tab. You can then use Explore to go to the folder's
or file's Properties to the Security tab, go to the Advanced button, to the
Owner tab, and change ownership to Administrators to take ownership, since
you are a part of Administrators with your other Vista user admin account.
You can even do it at the folder or file level.

If the Advanced button is not active, then you'll have to login with the
account in the link above to have the button activated.

Here is a little test I want you to take to see account conflict permissions
issues for user/admin on Vista.

1) Go to the Program Files and create a new directory call it *Test*. Vista
should allow you to create the directory even as you being Admin on the
machine.

2) Start Notepad enter some text and try to SaveAs with the file to Program
Files/Test. You should get permission denied. Yeah, you're getting it even
if the account you're using is your Admin account.

3) Come out of Notepad, forget the save, and cancel out of Notepad.

4) Go to the directory and to the Security tab for the directory and add a
new account to the security account list. It's going to be the User account
you login to the computer with as Admin. If you login with *Microsoft* as
admin on the machine, then you're going to add *Microsoft* as another
account the will have access to the directory.

5) You'll set *Microsoft* to have Full Control just as Administrators has
Full Control of the folder.

6) Go back to step # 2 with Notepad and try to SaveAs the file to Program
Files\Test. You should be able to save the file.

Hopefully, you'll see the issue of account permissions conflict for the
user/admin on Vista.

On one hand, your account is in the Administrators group account. But on the
other hand, your account is part of the User group account. If your user
account *Microsoft* is not on the folder with the same rights as as
Administrators, there is going to be a permissions conflict, because Vista
with UAC enabled it is looking at the combined rights of those two accounts
in some situations.

What Vista defaults to is Users account group permissions on the directory
if it doesn't see your individual user account on the folder, and Users
doesn't have Full Control.

This is because on Vista with UAC enabled, a user/admin on Vista is not an
Admin with Full rights, like it is on XP or Win 2k.

 

[news.microsoft.com]

You're not admin with full rights on Vista with that out of the box
user/admin account that Vista gives you, even if you disable UAC. There is
only one user account that has full admin rights at all times, the same
one that's on XP.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...idden-administrator-account-on-windows-vista/

The above does not work because clicking on the command prompt doesn't give
me the choice "Run as Administrator." How do I get around this in my
version of Vista? Then there's this:

"Enable Built-in Administrator Account
First you'll need to open a command prompt in administrator mode by
right-clicking and choosing "Run as administrator" (or use the
Ctrl+Shift+Enter shortcut from the search box)"

Right clicking where? I'm not familiar with Vista. There is no search box
in or on the command prompt. Where is it located? Also, since there is
only one user, me, there are no passwords or other accounts on the machine.
I can't follow the advice there. I need clear and simple directions for
Vista Home Premium. I just want all these aggravating annoying unnecessary
security "features" turned off so I have complete control of my own computer
as I did with W95,W98 and XP.

Now, you could disable Simple File Sharing on Vista, look it up use
Google, to expose the Security tab. You can then use Explore to go to the
folder's or file's Properties to the Security tab, go to the Advanced
button, to the Owner tab, and change ownership to Administrators to take
ownership, since you are a part of Administrators with your other Vista
user admin account. You can even do it at the folder or file level.

It's says "Enter the Objects Name." there. What is the objects name? What
"object?" Please don't assume I'm familiar with Vista. Can you please just
explain how I can turn off ALL THIS SECURITY crap?

If the Advanced button is not active, then you'll have to login with the
account in the link above to have the button activated.

Here is a little test I want you to take to see account conflict
permissions issues for user/admin on Vista.

1) Go to the Program Files and create a new directory call it *Test*.
Vista should allow you to create the directory even as you being Admin on
the machine.


2) Start Notepad enter some text and try to SaveAs with the file to
Program Files/Test. You should get permission denied. Yeah, you're getting
it even if the account you're using is your Admin account.

3) Come out of Notepad, forget the save, and cancel out of Notepad.

4) Go to the directory and to the Security tab for the directory and add a
new account to the security account list. It's going to be the User
account you login to the computer with as Admin. If you login with
*Microsoft* as admin on the machine, then you're going to add *Microsoft*
as another account the will have access to the directory.

I don't log into this PC. There are no passwords. I starts and I use it
immediatly.

5) You'll set *Microsoft* to have Full Control just as Administrators has
Full Control of the folder.

6) Go back to step # 2 with Notepad and try to SaveAs the file to Program
Files\Test. You should be able to save the file.

Hopefully, you'll see the issue of account permissions conflict for the
user/admin on Vista.

How can I do this where I can follow the steps, not having a sign in and
password account, and there being no "Run as Administrator" choice in or on
the command prompt?

On one hand, your account is in the Administrators group account. But on
the other hand, your account is part of the User group account. If your
user account *Microsoft* is not on the folder with the same rights as as
Administrators, there is going to be a permissions conflict, because Vista
with UAC enabled it is looking at the combined rights of those two
accounts in some situations.

How can I have ONE ACCOUNT on this computer so I have full control over it
instead of MS?

What Vista defaults to is Users account group permissions on the directory
if it doesn't see your individual user account on the folder, and Users
doesn't have Full Control.

How do I become the Admin with will rights to this PC? How do I get rid of
all this security crap and confusing account nonsense?

This is because on Vista with UAC enabled, a user/admin on Vista is not an
Admin with Full rights, like it is on XP or Win 2k.

Why is it so confusing? How do I get rid of all this stuff since no one
uses this machine but me?

 

[news.microsoft.com]

Mr. Arnold, I've spent hours tonight trying to make sense of what I am
reading concerning getting rid of all this confusing user account stuff and
taking control of my computer. I can't make sense of it and have made no
headway. Everything I type in, in the security window under properties
(objects) is rejected. PLEASE, in desperation, I ask if there is some way
to free myself of this user-Administration-permission madness?

 

[Mr. Arnold]

The above does not work because clicking on the command prompt doesn't
give me the choice "Run as Administrator." How do I get around this in my
version of Vista? Then there's this:

"Enable Built-in Administrator Account
First you'll need to open a command prompt in administrator mode by
right-clicking and choosing "Run as administrator" (or use the
Ctrl+Shift+Enter shortcut from the search box)"

That means you will have to use the Start button, All Programs,
Accessories and right-clicking the Command Prompt line short-cut and go to
Properties to select Run As Administrator, which can be set permanently by
going to the Advanced button.

Right clicking where? I'm not familiar with Vista. There is no search box
in or on the command prompt. Where is it located? Also, since there is
only one user, me, there are no passwords or other accounts on the
machine. I can't follow the advice there. I need clear and simple
directions for Vista Home Premium. I just want all these aggravating
annoying unnecessary security "features" turned off so I have complete
control of my own computer as I did with W95,W98 and XP.



It's says "Enter the Objects Name." there. What is the objects name? What
"object?" Please don't assume I'm familiar with Vista. Can you please
just explain how I can turn off ALL THIS SECURITY crap?

You cannot turn off NTFS.

The object would be the name of the folder or the file you right-clicked to
get to the file's or folder's Properties to get to the Security tab from
Explore. That's the object you are working with, and the object's name is
clearly shown on the screen. Whoever the owner name is use the Edit button
or the Group button and select Administrators as the owner.

I don't log into this PC. There are no passwords. I starts and I use it
immediatly.

Oh there is a user-id/account you are using. Vista can be set to login with
a preset user-id/account, which is the installation path that someone took
to install Vista, and the user-id/account doesn't have the psw set so it
doesn't need to be given.

I suggest go to Control Panel/Admin tools/Users and find out what that
account might be that Vista is using to auto login to the system.

How can I do this where I can follow the steps, not having a sign in and
password account, and there being no "Run as Administrator" choice in or
on the command prompt?

You have a sign in account and you have Run as Admin on the Command Prompt
short-cut so that it can be set.

How can I have ONE ACCOUNT on this computer so I have full control over it
instead of MS?

You use that hidden built-in Administrator account that gives you full
control of the machine. The user/account you're using if it is even a
user/admin account will never have full rights like the built-in
Administrator account.

How do I become the Admin with will rights to this PC? How do I get rid of
all this security crap and confusing account nonsense?

You can just use the built-in Administrator account to login with, and your
troubles are over.

Why is it so confusing? How do I get rid of all this stuff since no one
uses this machine but me?

Well, you can login with the Administrator account, and you can disable UAC,
which will turn your machine into the malware bait O/S like XP, as you run
and surf the Internet with full admin rights wide open to attack -- just
like before.

Or you can go get a book and figure out what is happening with Vista and
learn how to drive.

<http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Wi...Preview-Edition/Andy-Rathbone/e/9780470050910>

 

[Peter Foldes]

Take ownership of the File and then delete

Same in Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

Take ownership of a file

Same in Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268019/en-us

 

[Mr. Arnold]

Mr. Arnold, I've spent hours tonight trying to make sense of what I am
reading concerning getting rid of all this confusing user account stuff
and taking control of my computer. I can't make sense of it and have made
no headway. Everything I type in, in the security window under properties
(objects) is rejected. PLEASE, in desperation, I ask if there is some
way to free myself of this user-Administration-permission madness?

You don't type in anything. You use the Edit button and you select the
account or group to use, like Administrators. If the one you need is not
there, then use the Users/Group button to make the selection with the MOUSE,
assuming you are talking about the Owner tab.

Look, this is no different than it is on XP, if the file system was set to
NTFS on XP, which is the default on Vista.

Your problem is that you need to learn how to drive Vista, and you need a
little savvy to do it. It's not that hard.

 

[+Bob+]

Mr. Arnold, I've spent hours tonight trying to make sense of what I am
reading concerning getting rid of all this confusing user account stuff and
taking control of my computer. I can't make sense of it and have made no
headway. Everything I type in, in the security window under properties
(objects) is rejected. PLEASE, in desperation, I ask if there is some way
to free myself of this user-Administration-permission madness?

Take note of the post by Peter. DO the "take ownership" operation at
the root of the C: drive and you will own all the files. This should
work if you are signed on as an admin as you mention in your first
post.

 

[news.microsoft.com]

Take ownership of the File and then delete

Same in Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421

Take ownership of a file

Same in Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268019/en-us

-> I'm not sure I did it right since what I read don't match what I see on
my Vista PC. Now for this:

Taking Ownership of Profiles in Windows 2000
1. In the Profile folder, right-click the appropriate user's profile folder,
and then click Properties.
2. Click the Security tab, and then click Advanced.
3. Click the Owner tab, click the user that you would like to take ownership
in the Change owner to box, and then click Apply.
4. Click the Ownership button. A dialog box appears and displays:
Directory Name: D:\
Owner: Administrators
Close
Take Ownership
Help

- > Where is the PROFILE folder in Vista?

5. Click the Take Ownership button.
You receive the following error message:
One or more of the items selected is a directory. Do you want to take
ownership of all the files and contained in the selected directories?
6. Click Yes.

->Where is "profiles" in Vista so I can take control of the directories? A
search came up empty handed. I want control of my entire computer and want
all these damn aggravating MS/W popup security windows and permission
windows to STOP!

 

[Mr. Arnold]

<snipped>

<snipped>


Vista is not XP.

Where you're coming up with profiles is a mystery, when all you want to do
is take ownership of <C>, folders or files in folders to delete a file in a
folder.

<http://www.nirmaltv.com/2008/07/11/how-to-take-ownership-of-files-and-folders-in-vista/>