Cannot Delete Shortcut from Desktop!!

[A Baffled User]

Okay, I've successfully done what you instruct. One of my worst problems is
that Vista will not allow me access to drive C:\ when UAC is turned on. I
have tried to "Take Ownership" of that drive by pressing the Shift key and
right-clicking on C:\, but the "Take Ownership" option does not appear on
the menu then. It does appear when I use the same combination of keystrokes
on "Documents" and "Pictures," and I have "Taken Ownership" of those
folders. So although I can open files that are stored in the Documents or
Pictures folder, I am still prevented from opening/exploring drive C:\, from
deleting icons from the desktop, from backing up a file to my external hard
drive IF I have UAC turned on. If I turn it off, I can do all these things.

Somehow I don't think that this is how UAC is supposed to work!

Joan

 

[A Baffled User]

Here's how Brink describes the difference:


In other words, it gives you full admin rights to open, modify and
delete protected folders, etc., which is more efficient than changing
permissions. It should only be used to fix problems. See the full
tutorial here:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67567-administrator-account.html?ltr=A

I just wrote another message responding to your previous message. Here is
the text from it:

Okay, I followed your instructions above, having created a new administrator
account for the purpose. I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to enter *net
user administrator /active:yes* or ::*net user administrator /active:yes*::,
so I tried both. After the first string, I got the message '*net' is not
recognized as an internal or external command, operable program, or batch
file. After the second string (i.e., with two colons fore and aft), I just
got returned to the command prompt.

Did I do something wrong?

I note that the link you provided above says, "Vistax64." That sounds like
it might apply to a 64-bit version of Vista. Mine is Vista Home Premium
32-bit.

 

[Bob]

Okay, I followed your instructions above, having created a new
administrator account for the purpose. I wasn't sure whether I was
supposed to enter *net user administrator /active:yes* or ::*net user
administrator /active:yes*::, so I tried both. After the first string, I
got the message '*net' is not recognized as an internal or external
command, operable program, or batch file. After the second string (i.e.,
with two colons fore and aft), I just got returned to the command prompt.

Did I do something wrong?

Enter "net user administrator /active:no" That's it. No * or an other
punctuation. The easiest way to be sure you are correct is to copy and paste
the following:

net user administrator /active:no

 

[A Baffled User]

Enter "net user administrator /active:no" That's it. No * or an other
punctuation. The easiest way to be sure you are correct is to copy and
paste the following:

net user administrator /active:no

Thank you. I haven't tried this yet (without the extraneous punctuation,
that is), but everything I read on-line about the "real" or "hidden"
administrator says that you should use it only on rare occasion. I.e., if my
only problem were that I can't delete icons from my desktop, I could fire up
the hidden admin to delete them and return to normal mode. But desktop
icons, it turns out, are the least of my problems. I have no access to drive
C:\, cannot send a file created, say, in Excel or Word to my external hard
drive, etc., etc., etc. All of these normal operations elicit the dreaded
dialog box that says, "Location not available. C:\ is not accessible. Access
is denied."

 

[A Baffled User]

Does this help?
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/window-on-windows/?p=460

Yes, it does help. Thank you. you. I now see that you're only supposed to
use the "real" or "hidden"
administrator in exceptional situations--"sparingly," as they say. If my
only problem were that I can't delete icons from my desktop, it sounds like
I could open the hidden admin to delete them. But desktop icons, it turns
out, are the least of my problems. I have no access to drive C:\, cannot
send files to my external hard drive, and so on. All of these normal
operations elicit the dreaded
dialog box that says, "Location not available. C:\ is not accessible. Access
is denied."

 

[Bob]

Have you tried System Restore in Safe Mode?

Yes, it does help. Thank you. you. I now see that you're only supposed to
use the "real" or "hidden"
administrator in exceptional situations--"sparingly," as they say. If my
only problem were that I can't delete icons from my desktop, it sounds
like I could open the hidden admin to delete them. But desktop icons, it
turns out, are the least of my problems. I have no access to drive C:\,
cannot send files to my external hard drive, and so on. All of these
normal operations elicit the dreaded
dialog box that says, "Location not available. C:\ is not accessible.
Access is denied."

 

[A Baffled User]

Yes, I have, but I'm writing now to report--Hallelujah--that I have finally
solved the problem!! I did so by following the instructions found at
http://www.vista4beginners.com/Change-permissions-take-ownership, which
takes you step by step through the process of, first, taking ownership of
the folder (in my case, the entire C:\ drive!!) that you are prevented from
accessing and then assigning to yourself full control over it. I found the
link to this site at
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/31213013/c-is-not-accessible-acc.aspx.
So you put me on the right track when you gave me a link to the "Take
Ownership" page at www.petri.il.co. Koch's suggestions would probably have
gotten me straightened out, too, but the "Vista4Beginners" page above gave
me every step I needed to take in language (and with pictures) I could
understand. What a relief!! Thank you to everyone who has made a
contribution to this thread. You have all been great!

Joan

 

[Bob]

Congratulations! You must be very relieved.

Yes, I have, but I'm writing now to report--Hallelujah--that I have
finally solved the problem!! I did so by following the instructions found
at http://www.vista4beginners.com/Change-permissions-take-ownership, which
takes you step by step through the process of, first, taking ownership of
the folder (in my case, the entire C:\ drive!!) that you are prevented
from accessing and then assigning to yourself full control over it. I
found the link to this site at
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/31213013/c-is-not-accessible-acc.aspx.
So you put me on the right track when you gave me a link to the "Take
Ownership" page at www.petri.il.co. Koch's suggestions would probably have
gotten me straightened out, too, but the "Vista4Beginners" page above gave
me every step I needed to take in language (and with pictures) I could
understand. What a relief!! Thank you to everyone who has made a
contribution to this thread. You have all been great!

Joan