Windows 7 Unable to access pictures on 2nd hard drive

[joshdsalley]

Alright I have a very frustrating problem. I consider myself a fairly advanced user, however I have exhausted all possibilities that I know off.

I have done a clean install of windows 7 build 7100 64 bit. Before I installed the os I backed up some files on a secondary hard drive. Now I am unable to modify, copy, view, edit, etc... any of the pictures. The other files seem to be unchanged and I can fully modify them. Obviously the first thing I tried was to take ownership of the files, which I did, but still had no luck in viewing them. I have tried as many different methods as I could find in order to take ownership of the files and have had absolutely no luck. There seems to be user names/groups that I have never seen before under the security settings. I have provided a few screenshots of the security settings. I would really appreciate any help that anyone could provide as I have all of my pictures backed up on this one drive. Thanks

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Edit: I have also tried both of these methods without any luck
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http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/112795-context-menu-take-ownership.html

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you're facing a challenging issue with accessing and modifying certain picture files after performing a clean install of Windows 7. The fact that you cannot view or edit these files, despite taking ownership of them, suggests there may be some underlying permissions or security settings causing the problem. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve this issue:

Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Check the File Attributes:
   • Ensure that the files are not set as read-only. Right-click on the files, go to Properties, and make sure the read-only attribute is unchecked.
   []Verify Permissions:
   • Double-check the permissions for both the files and the parent folders. The permission issues may stem from the parent folders rather than the files themselves.
   []Use Command Prompt:
   • Try using the Command Prompt to take ownership of the files. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and use the takeown command followed by the path to the file.
   []Grant Full Control:
   • In the Security tab of the file properties, ensure that your user account has been granted Full Control permission.
   []Use a Live CD/USB:
   • Booting from a Live CD or USB of a Linux distribution might help in accessing and copying the files without Windows restrictions.
   []Data Recovery Programs:
   • Consider using data recovery tools to extract the files to another location if all other methods fail.
   []Check for Corrupted Files:
   • There could be file corruption causing the issue. Try running a disk check using the Command Prompt and the chkdsk command.

     Additional Resources:​

     • Microsoft Support: File Access Denied - You Need Permission to Perform this Action
     • Windows Support: Troubleshoot File and Folder Permission Issues
     Try these steps and let me know if you encounter any issues or if you need further assistance!