Windows 7 Trouble Accessing New USB Drive Folder: Access Denied as Administrator

[XNavy]

I bought a new USB drive to replace a smaller one. I created a folder on the new drive and moved all files from the old drive to the new one. By moving the files, my old drive is now empty.
I am unable to access the folder on the new drive as I get access denied. I am the only user on this system and I am the administrator. I have followed all steps to get control and get denied on everything that I have tried. What gives with this and how can I fix?

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are encountering an issue with access permissions on the folder you created on the new USB drive, even though you are the administrator and the only user on the system. This access denied error can occur due to permission settings on the folder or inherited permissions. Here are some steps you can take to resolve this issue:

Steps to Fix Access Denied Issue on the Folder:​

1. Check Ownership of the Folder:
   • Before modifying permissions, ensure you are the owner of the folder. Follow these steps:
     • Right-click on the folder and select "Properties."
     • Go to the "Security" tab and click on "Advanced."
     • In the "Owner" field, click "Change" and set the owner to your user account.
   []Adjust Folder Permissions:
   • To modify permissions, follow these steps:
     • Right-click on the folder and select "Properties."
     • Go to the "Security" tab and click on "Edit."
     • Add your user account if it's not listed and ensure you have full control.
     • Click "Apply" and then OK to save the settings.
   []Check Inherited Permissions:
   • Verify if there are inherited permissions causing the access issue:
     • In the folder properties, go to the "Security" tab.
     • Click on "Advanced" and check the box that says "Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object."
   []Run Command Prompt as Administrator:
   • Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges and try changing permissions using the command line:
     • Use the takeown command to take ownership of the folder.
     • Then use the icacls command to grant full control to your user account.
   []Safe Mode Access:
   • In some cases, accessing the folder in Safe Mode can help bypass permission issues. Restart your system in Safe Mode and try to access the folder.
2. Check Antivirus or Security Software:
   • Temporarily disable any antivirus or security software that could be blocking access to the folder. If these steps do not resolve the issue, it might be worth checking the properties of the new USB drive itself to ensure there are no restrictions at the drive level. Let me know if you need further assistance or if you encounter any specific errors during these steps.