Permissions

[Sam Hobbs]

Then you should have made that clear.

You know my original question only required a yes or no. I just wanted to
know.

 

[FromTheRafters]

Just because you own a computer does not make you an administrator [...]

Sure it does, but unfortunately it doesn't make you worthy of the task - so
you're it unless you delegate the task to another more worthy person.

 

[Addison Steele]

Then you should have made that clear.

It's is supremely difficult to make things clear for others when they
aren't clear in one's own mind.

 

[Michael Walraven]

To clear up, the correct answer to the OP original question is: for which
she wanted a yes or no.

Yes

Michael

 

[Guest]

If I mess up my computer I will fix it or format it and start over.
I get the feeling noone gets my point. I know they are junction points,
but why show them if you can't access them?
I want to know what is on my computer. On my computer they look like an
ordinary folder. If you look back at the first response, won't you
immediately feel put down and defensive? My default user folder is not
empty. I could not access it until I changed the security options. So
are the rest empty?

Kathy

You were vague and have to take the heat for that. But the ensuing
derisive storm was totally uncalled for. And the lack of helpful
suggestion was also unacceptable.

There's a common problem with "experts". Many have knowledge, but lack
empathy. They can't or won't put themselves in your shoes and try to
help you get YOUR job done YOUR way. They know it all, but don't
comprehend that you don't! If they don't have a problem, there's
no way you can have a problem...You're an idiot!!!!

They make quick assumptions
and shoot from the hip...and miss the target completely.
"Whaddayoumean I gotta READ your question?"

When you get a bunch of them in an anonymous forum where they
have no accountability, you get this kind of unruly mob behavior.
People routinely say stuff on the web that would net them a quick
trip to the emergency room if they said it face to face. I worry
that our kids are growing up in this "anything goes" environment
and society will be much the worse for it. Another generation
and it's gonna be a jungle out there.

It's very common for an expert to leave out critical details that
"everybody knows"...everybody except the person they're advising.
They don't realize that the reason you can't comprehend their perfectly
lucid argument is that it's incomplete. Add that to their tunnel vision
and resistance to venturing outside the box and it becomes
very difficult to get help.

I used to have to edit all the technical manuals for complex
electronic products. My engineers could write accurate documentation,
it was just incomprehensible to the user. Rewriting just a few sentences
could turn the user experience from "wtf?" to "I see how that works".
I was never successful teaching that. Either you have it or you don't.

The signal to noise ratio on the web is nearly zero, but it's still
the best option for most of us. To get more signal, you just generate
more noise and sort thru the result. The people with the best
answers are often off doing something useful. They pop out of the
woodwork when the discussion has gone terribly wrong.
On many occasions, I've hammered
on a point and weathered the derision until someone popped up
with a simple, clear, concise, solution to my problem.

I've experienced that any news group with "microsoft" in the title
results in more grief on the way to
a solution. Maybe higher percentage of solution, but also more grief
getting to it. And the solutions are almost always straight
down the party line. If you want anything off the beaten path,
look elsewhere. All you'll get here are directions back to the path.

Just ignore the name calling and search for useful nuggets of data.
If you keep pushing, some nugget of useful info can emerge from the storm.

Watch the responses to this and take special note of the irony.

If you want to have some fun, tell an expert, "statistically,
half of you experts are below average. And the bar for average
is set mighty low."


Back to your original question...
My solution when I find something I can't change or overwrite
is to take ownership of the parent directory and allow myself permission
to it and all the subdirectories. Just taking ownership of the file I
want to delete doesn't seem to let me change permissions.
I'd ask why, but I don't have time
for the responses I'd get.
I expect that this brute force strategy is gonna cause me
grief down the road, but nobody is willing to help me discover
an intermediate option.
Guess that's what backups are for. Vista is only good for another year
anyway.

If you haven't noticed yet, M$ has decided to punish developers that
use the .hlp help system. I guess nobody bothered to tell them that
those developers are long gone. Only people being punished are users.
Anyway, there's no help for legacy .hlp programs. And M$ expressly
PROHIBITS vendors from distributing the means to view their help files.
No problem, you can download it from M$.
Assuming you have an active broadband web connection at the time you
need it. But wait, you're trying to PIRATE the help system, so you
gotta download and run a tool that proves that you're not a pirate.
Then you get to download an update file that contains the fix and
whoknowswhat other hidden spyware. Which you can then install
IF you have updates enabled.
OR, you can copy two files from XP.
But wait, you can't overwrite or delete the winhlp32.exe stub.
Which brings us right back to the topic at hand...inability
to manage your computer (in this case, get back what M$ took away)
because of the security settings.
The good news is that by now, I've forgotten why I needed access
to that help file anyway. M$ was right in denying me access...was
for my own good. M$ really does know best.


Let me say again...
There are many reasons to have tight system security.
I get that. Just give me a way to relax it for MY system.
I do NOT want tight system security that inhibits my
ability to use MY system.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

are
owners of the system, so they are the Administrator too. That is not
hard to
understand.>

Just because you own a computer does not make you an administrator. So
I don't think you do understand. And If you do understand you wouldn't
have a problem.

It depends on your definition of Administrator. In my definition, you are
incorrect. I am defining an Administrator as having legal access to the
Administrator account, therefore ownership implies Administrator.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

It's is supremely difficult to make things clear for others when they
aren't clear in one's own mind.

To the extent that is true, it is unproductive to be critical.

An alternative explanation is that some people are inexperienced in asking
for help in groups and forums and therefore they are inexperienced at making
a good question. So ideally they would apologize and become educated. That
unfortunately is less likely to happen when people attack immediately as
happened here instead of respectfully asking for clarification.

 

[Addison Steele]

To the extent that is true, it is unproductive to be critical.

I beg to differ. I am a firm believer in "Stupid should HURT".

 

[Sam Hobbs]

I beg to differ. I am a firm believer in "Stupid should HURT".

Except if hurt means dumping on others to inflict emotional pain then that
is done for the purpose of emotional gratification of the person dumping but
it is counter-productive with the goal of getting cooperation and is a huge
problem in the world.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

I think your question should be ignored; you are "hijacking" a thread that
has grown immensely. People that are most serious about helping without
making trouble will ignore this thread. Of course, I get the impression you
just want to make trouble also, since you are not really asking a question.

Yes, you can mess with your computer but don't expect someone here to fix it
for you. You might get help here but just don't expect it.

If you were to ask directions for getting somewhere and then you decided
that there is a shortcut and they tell you there are landmines there and you
say you have a right to go wherever you want to go then don't expect the
others to run out and get you when you get blown up.

For what it is worth, I still have an IBM PC XT 286.

 

[Chief]

Sam Hobbs must be wearing his underwear too tight. I think it's a damm good
question that needs an answer. I too would like to know how to have full
admin permission. Would some non smart ass out there help us?

 

[omalakas]

This is not possible with Microsoft Vista and 7 or Linux (yes we have to
enter credentials in Linux and Unix for decades now in order to do
administrative tasks and no one complains), but if you insist, you have some
options.
You can enable the default "Administrator" account (disabled by default) and
then login with this account, free to open a backdoor for every malware out
there ...
Another option but not as exciting is to disable the UAC, again you are free
to create a small disaster even by mistake...
And for the boring ones, just use the runas command, but this is safe and
will not make you feel the power of Administrator or the excitement of be
the "King of PC" ...

 

[FromTheRafters]

Enable the so-called "real" or "hidden" 'Administrator' account and use
that. Still not all powerful, but more like XPs.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

First, if the question was asked in a new thread, it would have gotten more
answers. You might disagree, but it is not an opinion; it is a fact.

Second, if the question were just a question asking for help, instead of
being a dump of emotions, then it would have gotten answers.

Third, if the question was specific, it would have gotten answers.

Finally, if it asked about a specific problem that needed a solution, and if
anyone knows the solution, it would be answered. Instead, the question asked
for help with a solution to an unspecified problem.

 

[Oliver Costich]

The real administrator account doesn't get told no.

Not true in my case. I have enabled the hidden administrator account
and It's there beacuse I can log in to it. I have a couple of files
not related to the system (not even on the boot drive) that won't go
away. I have checked that there is full control access and still get
"You need permission to perform this action" when I try to delete
them.

Any suggestions about how to lose these would be appreciated.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

You are more likely to get the best answers if you create a new thread.