It sounds like you've encountered a challenging situation with the permissions on your password file. When you've effectively denied yourself access to the file and are unable to modify permissions even as the owner, resolving this can be tricky but possible. Here are some steps you can take to try to regain control of the file without resorting to formatting your hard drive:
### 1.
Use a Linux Live CD/USB:
- Boot your computer using a Linux Live CD/USB.
- Mount your Windows partition and access the file from the Linux environment.
- You can then modify the permissions or copy/delete the file from Linux.
### 2.
Create a New Admin Account:
- Create a new administrator account on your system.
- Log in with the new account and try to access the file.
### 3.
Command Prompt in Recovery Environment:
- Boot into the Windows Recovery Environment.
- Use the Command Prompt to access the file and change permissions.
### 4.
Reset File Permissions with a Script:
- You can create a script to reset file permissions using icacls.
- Run the script from an elevated Command Prompt.
### 5.
Safe Mode with Command Prompt:
- Boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
- Use the Command Prompt to modify the permissions of the file.
### Example Script to Reset Permissions:
Here's an example of a script you could use to reset permissions. Replace
FILE_PATH
with the path to your password file.
Code:
takeown /F FILE_PATH
icacls FILE_PATH /reset /T
Try these approaches and see if any of them help you regain control of the file. It's important to be cautious when making changes to permissions to avoid unintended consequences. If these methods don't work, more advanced techniques like using a Linux Live CD or seeking help from professional data recovery services might be necessary.