Scott M W

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Nov 12, 2009
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So I am trying to recover my files from the hard drive I was using on my last computer and I have to enable access to them to the admin on windows 7. Right now I am finding myself having to manage permission individual file by individual file is there a faster way to do it to whole folders so that I dont have to go through my 50 gigs of music and song by song?
 


Solution
To simplify the process of granting permissions to multiple files or folders at once in Windows 7, you can use the "Takeown" and "icacls" commands in Command Prompt. These commands allow you to take ownership of files and set permissions on them efficiently. Here's how you can do it:

1. Taking Ownership of Files and Folders:

You can use the Takeown command to take ownership of a file or folder. This will allow you to manage permissions without encountering access restrictions. Open Command Prompt as an administrator:
  1. Click on the Start menu.
  2. In the search bar, type "cmd."
  3. Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator." Use the Takeown command to take ownership of the files or...
To simplify the process of granting permissions to multiple files or folders at once in Windows 7, you can use the "Takeown" and "icacls" commands in Command Prompt. These commands allow you to take ownership of files and set permissions on them efficiently. Here's how you can do it:

1. Taking Ownership of Files and Folders:

You can use the Takeown command to take ownership of a file or folder. This will allow you to manage permissions without encountering access restrictions. Open Command Prompt as an administrator:
  1. Click on the Start menu.
  2. In the search bar, type "cmd."
  3. Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator." Use the Takeown command to take ownership of the files or folders:
    Bash:
    takeown /f C:\Path\To\Your\Folder /r /d y
    • Replace C:\Path\To\Your\Folder with the path to the folder containing your files.
    • The /r parameter is used for taking ownership of files within the specified folder and its subfolders.
    • The /d y parameter answers "yes" to any prompts to confirm the ownership change.

    2. Granting Permissions to Files and Folders:

    After taking ownership, you can use the icacls command to grant permissions to the files or folders.
    Bash:
    icacls "C:\Path\To\Your\Folder" /grant Username:F /t
    • Replace "C:\Path\To\Your\Folder" with the path to the folder where your files are stored.
    • Replace Username with the appropriate username or group you want to grant permissions to.
    • The /grant parameter is used to grant the specified user or group the specified access rights.
    • The F after the username allows full control. You can adjust this permission level as needed.

    Important Note:​

    • It's crucial to be cautious when modifying permissions, especially at the system level, as incorrect changes can impact system stability and security.
    • Ensure you have a backup of important files before making any changes.
    Using these commands, you can efficiently manage permissions for multiple files and folders in a quicker and more automated manner compared to manually adjusting permissions for each individual file.
 


Solution
I have an SSD that I am trying to resuscitate.
I am logged in as an Administrator. I have a large number of files on a drive that throws an error when I try to access them.
When I go to check the security setting, I get: The requested security information is either unavailable or can't be displayed.

OK. I decided to try and reset the security information using Takeown:
Takeown /F I:\* /A /R /D Y
I get an error message for each directory in the root of I:
INFO: The device is not ready. ( "I:\Apple" )

But if I click on I:\Apple I now see the files in it which I didn't before.
In fact, I can now access many, not all, of the files in all of the directories. So apparently the Takeown partially worked.

I would appreciate any explanation as to what is happening.
 


I have an SSD that I am trying to resuscitate.
I am logged in as an Administrator. I have a large number of files on a drive that throws an error when I try to access them.
When I go to check the security setting, I get: The requested security information is either unavailable or can't be displayed.

OK. I decided to try and reset the security information using Takeown:
Takeown /F I:\* /A /R /D Y
I get an error message for each directory in the root of I:
INFO: The device is not ready. ( "I:\Apple" )

But if I click on I:\Apple I now see the files in it which I didn't before.
In fact, I can now access many, not all, of the files in all of the directories. So apparently the Takeown partially worked.

I would appreciate any explanation as to what is happening.
A separate issue, but it sounds like the drive is bad or corrupt. The initial message indicates that it is only partially accessible.
 


It sounds like you’re encountering a couple of issues related to the state of your SSD and how Windows handles its file system under those conditions. Here’s a breakdown of what might be happening:
  • Intermittent Drive Response:
    When you run the Takeown command on the root (using recursion), Windows queries every folder. If the SSD isn’t providing consistent access (which can happen when a drive is in a failing or “resuscitating” state), you might see errors like “The device is not ready.” Sometimes, manually accessing a folder forces the drive to “wake up” or reinitialize the connection, temporarily making its contents accessible.
  • Takeown Behavior:
    The Takeown utility is designed to take ownership of files and folders recursively. However, if some directories can’t be read at the moment the command runs because of intermittent accessibility issues, the command will report an error for those directories—even if they work later when accessed manually. This is why you may only see partial success.
  • Permission Reset Alternatives:
    If you’re aiming for a faster, more robust reset of permissions across all files, consider using icacls. This utility can reset permissions and might handle intermittent drive issues a little more gracefully. For example:
    Code:
    icacls I:\ /reset /T /C
    Here,
  • /T tells it to operate on all subfolders and files, and
  • /C continues the operation despite errors (helpful if some files are still giving you trouble).
  • Underlying Drive Health Issues:
    Since the drive has already shown signs of unreliability, it might be prudent to use a disk health check (like chkdsk I: /f or vendor-specific SSD diagnostic tools) to assess if there are failing sectors or other issues. Sometimes permission issues can be compounded by underlying disk errors.
In summary, what you’re seeing is likely due to intermittent drive issues combined with the way Windows tools (like Takeown) handle a drive that isn’t reliably responsive. Have a go at using icacls for permission resets, and consider checking the drive's health to ensure there isn’t a deeper problem.
Hope this helps clarify what’s going on! If you have any more questions or need further assistance, just let me know.
 


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