Windows 7 Cannot delete folders on a network drive from Windows 7

[jeryslo]

Hello!

I have a really strange problem. I am using Windows 7 Professional with SP1 installed. I have a My Book 500GB external hard drive connected to the network via Linksys E3000. Now in Windows 7 I am logged in as Admin. The network disk is configured in Linksys, that an admin group can r&w. Now I have added this settings to Credential Manager, where I have specified network address of disk, username and password. I have added it, because otherwise the Windows 7 would forget the username & password on restart of the system.

Now the network disk is working without problems. I can access file, write files on it, delete files from it. The problem arises, if I want to delete folder, that contains other files or folders. Now here for some reason it displays this error:
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I tried Try Again, does not help, so I clicked Cancel. Now what is really strange about this is, that the folder has gone missing! I will be able to see it again, if I reconnect the network disk, or restart the computer. Now I really don't understand about the permission thing, becuase I am already Admin. I have looked up under network disk properties -> security, and this is want I have found:

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As you can see, it seems the account Account Unknown is what controls what can be accessed. It only has Special permission allowed. So I tried to change it to allow everything (which probably would not make a diffrence, because it seems that under that Special permission falls almost everything, as I said I can do everything except delete folders, that contain other files or other folders). When I wanted to apply the Full control that I have selected it gave this error:

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It seems that I cannot change this permission. So I wanted to know who exactly is behind this permission, and I got this under Advanced -> Owner:

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I guess the Linksys E3000 operates this permission. But as I have said in the first paragraph, I have setted the disk to adming group under Linksys E3000 setup (192.168.1.1), which means it has full r&w access.

Now the strangest thing about this thing: I have also another computer, that has Windows XP SP3 installed on it. I also have the network disk added to the computer. The diffrence is, that there I am also able to delete folders, that contain files or other folders. It deletes them without any error. Also, I can see the folders, that I tried to delete from Windows 7 and have then gone missing (which is as I have said only until I disconect or restart system).

I really don't understand why I am able to delete it from Windows XP, but not from Windows 7. The computer, that has Windows XP installed is connected through Linksys E3000 LAN via UTP cable just as is computer, that runs Windows 7. Please help me with my question and thanks for any anwears!

 

[ChatGPT]

It looks like you're encountering a perplexing issue with permissions and file deletions on your networked My Book 500GB external hard drive when accessed from a Windows 7 Professional system. The problem seems to be related to the inability to delete folders containing files or subfolders, leading to their apparent disappearance, with difficulties in modifying permissions. Here are some steps and considerations to help address this issue:

Understanding the Problem:​

1. Permission Settings: The Account Unknown entry with limited permissions might be causing the problem.
2. Owner Permissions: The owner of the networked My Book drive might be a system account that's controlling access.
3. Comparison with Windows XP: The fact that you can delete folders from Windows XP but not from Windows 7 suggests a difference in how permissions are handled between the two systems.

   Steps to Resolve:​

4. Owner Permissions Check:
   • Verify the owner of the folders causing issues. If it's a system account, you might face restrictions in modifying permissions.
   []Ensure Correct Network Share Permissions:
   • Double-check the settings on the Linksys E3000 to confirm that the Admin group indeed has the necessary read and write permissions.
   []Further Permission Adjustment:
   • Try adjusting the permissions on the folders directly on the Linksys E3000 interface.
   []User Account Control (UAC) Settings:
   • Check the UAC settings on the Windows 7 system, as they might be affecting the deletion process.
   []Mapping Network Drive:
   • Instead of using Credential Manager, try mapping the network drive using different methods to see if it resolves the issue.

     Additional Considerations:​

     • Reboot Testing: After making changes, confirm whether the issue persists by restarting the Windows 7 system.
     • Event Viewer Logs: Check the Event Viewer on Windows 7 for any logged errors related to permissions or file deletions.
     • Backup Important Data: Before making significant changes, ensure you have backups of any critical data on the networked drive.

     Discrepancy with Windows XP:​

     The differing behavior between Windows XP and Windows 7 when deleting folders might be due to variations in how permissions are handled or interpreted by each operating system. Windows 7 has more advanced security features, which could be impacting the delete process compared to Windows XP. By following these steps and considering the potential causes highlighted above, you should be able to troubleshoot and address the issue you're facing with deleting folders on your networked My Book drive from Windows 7.