wtf do i need to delete a folder (vista)

[Petebert]

I have UAC off, current user is admin and owner of folder. I try to delete the folder and get "destination folder access denied" you need permission to perform this action. I will be dual booting soon, suppose another OS will be allowed to delete it?

[Pinky]

Another OS should be able to delete it (assuming that OS reads NTFS). Might have to take ownership of the folder from the other OS though.

Vista has some funky use of permissions that I'm just starting to look into more deeply (for a cert). One thing I found:

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/05/25/delete-undeletable-files-in-windows-vista/

We can use 2 command-line utilities to take ownership of the files or folders, and then grant full control access permissions to Administrators group, which supposedly you’re a member of. The 2 command line syntaxes are as below. Note that the full path should be included if you’re not at the current directory, and to run these commands, command prompt has to be in elevated mode.

For Files:

takeown /f file_name /d y
icacls file_name /grant administrators:F

For Directories (will perform action recursively):

takeown /f directory_name /r /d y
icacls directory_name /grant administrators:F /t

There's a batch file out there that allows a right-click / menu option to take ownership of files and folders. I've rarely needed it but see it has been installed at some time (by me). Can't remember where I found it but I know it's a pretty common 'hack'.

[Know Nuttin]

I use "Unlocker" but I do know what you are talking about. Vista is acting weird on my machine too, I can't move a folder into another folder but can move the files to another folder.

[Neuromancer]

Another OS should be able to delete it (assuming that OS reads NTFS). Might have to take ownership of the folder from the other OS though.

Vista has some funky use of permissions that I'm just starting to look into more deeply (for a cert). One thing I found:

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/05/25/delete-undeletable-files-in-windows-vista/



There's a batch file out there that allows a right-click / menu option to take ownership of files and folders. I've rarely needed it but see it has been installed at some time (by me). Can't remember where I found it but I know it's a pretty common 'hack'.


There is a way to do it in the GUI too... but that batch file sounds MUCH easier to handle.

[seahawk83]

if unlocker doesn't work, do this:
right click and share the folder, add guest and make co-owner and then clivk share then click done and try now to delete folder - I haven't tried this in Vista, but I do know that this does work in XP when you are denied access - share the folder with full access and then the folder can be deleted

[redduc900]

Some files / folders in Vista can only be modified (deleted, copied, moved, etc.) by using the Command Prompt. Type command prompt in the Start Search box from the Start Button, right click and select "Run As Administrator"...

Vista Command Prompt Tips
http://www.petri.co.il/vista_command_prompt.htm

Commands in Windows Vista
http://commandwindows.com/vista-commands.htm