Help: How to restore to default NTFS security/file permissions

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sam
  • Start date Start date
S

Sam

My access is all messed up. I cannot access system restore, Windows
Explorer, Users (from Control Panel) and I cannot install any
anti-virus programs. I am using XP SP2 but it was upgraded from Win
2000. Everything was fine until the settings were changed.

I used my laptop (XP) Home to try to change the default settings back
file by file. I havent been successful. There are three users setup.
Two should have full admin rights, the other does not. But, I also
noticed POWERUSER was setup in the profile. I deleted that as I went
along.

Can anyone help?

Thanks
 
Try repairing the Windows XP installation. To do so:

1. Turn off any antivirus program and BIOS-level antivirus protection.
For help, see the appropriate software manual or online Help.

2. Make sure that the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive is the first priority
startup device in your computer's BIOS settings. See your computer's
documentation for information about how to do this.

3. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM in the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then
restart your computer.

4. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" prompt appears, press a key
so that your computer starts from the Windows XP CD-ROM.

5. When the computer starts from the CD-ROM, your hardware is checked,
and then you are prompted to select an option. Press ENTER.

6. Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.

7. Your current Windows XP installation is listed, and then you are
prompted to select an option. Press R to start the automatic repair
process. After Windows XP is repaired, you may have to reactivate
Windows XP if you changed some hardware.

hth
 
Thanks Anonyous, but in the past whenever I did this, I had to
reformat/reinstall Windows because of other problems. I don't want to
go this route again. I also dont want to install some programs since
the CD's are no longer good.

I have seen some info using the mmc.exe command and I rather go this
route than having to do a reinstall or if I had a list of all of
Windows APPS and their permission levels. I also did SFC and it didnt
make any difference.

Unforutantely, I only tried one method with the mmc.exe but it didnt
fix the problem.
 
Oh, just to clarify....what I mean settings changed is everything was
fine until recently. Last year the permission levels were changed and
I attempted to install another program and the rights issue came up.
 
Well have you tried system Restore then?

System Restore is a component of Windows XP Professional that you can
use to restore your computer to a previous state, if a problem occurs,
without losing your personal data files (such as Microsoft Word
documents, browsing history, drawings, favorites, or e-mail). System
Restore monitors changes to the system and some application files, and
it automatically creates easily identified restore points. These restore
points allow you to revert the system to a previous time. They are
created daily and at the time of significant system events (such as when
an application or driver is installed). You can also create and name
your own restore points at any time.

hth
 
For starters, I am unable to run System Restore, User Groups, Windows
Explorer. The hour glass momentarily appears and then goes away. With
Win Explorer, the little dog appears but that's about it. Obviously,
the rights have been comprimised within the Windows files. Installing
AVG (anti-virus) works but will not allow me to update as an error
message appears afterwards. I even tried booting into safe mode and
selecting the last known good configuration. Initially, I tried
uninstalling AVG but I didnt have the rights to do so (in admin mode).
Then I changed the permissions of the AVG directory and I could delete
it manually.

I would like to reestablish the administrator rights to all applicable
windows folders and registry settings. There must be a template and
program that will allow one to view all the rights of
files/folders/registry and then to overide the existing rights? This
is where the problem is. If I know what the default permissions
are/should be, I can change the permissions. As stated before, going
in file by file or directory by directory to change permissions didn't
remedy the problem. As it stands, my system is in a vulnerable
position since I dont have any antivirus running.
 
I don't think I made it clear on the gravity of the situation. ALL
access to Windows files/folders and permissions are wonky. I can't
even access User Groups, Windows Explorer in Safe Mode or other modes!!
I can't access System Restore through MY COMPUTER in Safe Mode. Is
there a way mmc.exe can help??
 
Hi Bert, sorry for being so impatient here. I have looked up subinacl?
I installed this but I am unable to run it nor do I know how to use
it?
 

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