access denied

After my hard disk was accidentally formatted, I managed using the TestDisk open source program successfully to recover almost all of my data (approx. 6.5Gb after my last backup) in an external drive.

But now I want to delete those files from the external drive and I keep getting the message "access is denied". I cannot even rename or move them, only to copy them (which I did). The recovered files remain there!

The folders and files are not "read only".

Can anyone please help?

steliosstef

 

Hi Halo,

thank you for your reply.

Yes, it 's windows xp pro.
Trying your advice I noticed that if I right-click properties the only tags I get is:

General, Sharing, Customize (nothing related to security/administrative rights).

Furthermore, I noticed that even if any folder allows me to change the read-only setting,
it comes back selected when I re-open the same. So, that is the problem afterall.

I checked with microsoft support and advices to change some registry settings. I did not try that cause I am not so much experienced. Or to put it in another way, is it possible to change the read-only situation for that particular folder (the recovery-folder) only?

Please advice.

Thanks a lot.

 

In a Windows Explorer window click on Tools>Folder Options>View tab>scroll down and uncheck the box for "Use Simple File Sharing"

This will give you the Security tab in Halo's instructions. Taking ownership should work for your original problem.

 

Thank you sach2.
I will try it on Monday when I have access to the particular PC

 

thank you Halo

thank you sach2.

I have tried your instruction with no effect unfortunately.

I have even tried utilities like "unlocker" and "febooti fileTweak" with no results.

When I take ownership of the folder it does not let me to gain full control (it remains greyed out - delete as well) no matter what
and the folder remains read-only (not ticked but squared)

 

Try, Properties>Security tab
Add button
type yourusername in the box and enter
Highlight yourusername and see if the boxes for permissions are checkable.

 

I could not get ownership - the boxes were greyed-out.

With lots of patience, I managed to clear my external disk, where the initially recovered data were stored, using the utility "unlocker 1.87" deleting files first, and then the folder containing them since the program did not work efficiently at all folder levels.

It took more than seven hours!!

 

Thank you sach2 for your time.

 

Thank you Halo for your time.

 

Sorry, taking ownership did not work. It may have been due to the drive being external. I don't understand all the levels of "taking ownership" (some seem redundant) but have found that going through the various advanced screens will eventually get you full control.

Glad you got it sorted!