Access Denied on C: drive permissions

[rastaIT34]

Hi all, need some help here.

I was trying to make my C: drive secure by denying permissions on it. But instead I messed it up and locked myself out. Now a bunch of applications don't work and I cant even access the drive. Yea I feel like a bone head now.

Basically this is what I did.

> right click C: drive.
> select properties.
> select security tab.
> select edit button.
> and change permissions to deny.

Now the C: drive says "Access Denied" on it and I cant open it. I've tried right clicking it to undo what I did. I tried running in safe mode. No success.

Could anyone offer some advise as to what do to allow permissions back on the C: drive?

thanks in advance.

 

[smah]

Try this 'Fix It' utility.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313222

 

[rastaIT34]

This is becoming quite a head ache.

I tried downloading that small app. but I cant run it. I get messages like; 'this file could not be verified', or 'not enough space on disk' when there clearly more than enough. I have even tried dragging the file to different drives. nothing. I even tried running in safe mode then running the app. that way. nope.

any other thoughts?

 

[strongm]

> get messages like; 'this file could not be verified', or 'not enough space on disk'

Presumably because you are trying to download it to your C drive, to which you don't actually have permission!! Catch-22

Do you have a USB stick that you could download it to instead?

 

[gbaughma]

Can you get to a command prompt?

If so, CACLS should fix you up.



Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[rastaIT34]

Yes I can get CACLS! I've been searching the net as to how to use it. Could anyone walk me through granting permission on to the C using CACLS?


Oh by the way when I typed CACLS in the command prompt it says Cacls is now deprecated, please use lcacls.

not sure what means.

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
LCACLS is the Vista version of CACLS with added features
try here for info on its use:

http://itsvista.com/2007/03/cacls/

To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[rastaIT34]

Hey Turkbear, thanks,


LCACLS seems to be a road in the right direction. As I try to do various functions in the command line I keep getting 'Access is denied'. It seems I must have denied myself permission to the C: root directory.

The highest level I could get was, C:\Users>. There I tried: C:\Users>/g user:f

Still got access denied.

I'm lost here.

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Just a chance, try ( from the C:\Users)

LCACLS C:\*.* /T /G Administrator:F

OR

LCACLS C:\*.* /T /P Administrator:F







To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[rastaIT34]

i get:

Are you sure (Y/N)?

I type 'Y' then get 'Access Denied'

 

[linney]

Have you tried Startup Repair to see if it is able to sort the mess out?

If you have an install DVD that you can boot to (or a Startup Repair option via the F8 Safe Mode screen), try launching that.

While there you can have a go at System Restore from the Recovery Environment.

You can even look at some of the Command Prompt applications such as Icacls and Takedown. Icacls has some syntax that allows removal of currently set permissions and replacement of other permissions. If you are out of the Vista environment and in the Recovery Environment, make sure you are directing things to your C: drive.

How to use the Command Prompt in the Vista Windows Recovery Environment

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial147.html

Using System Restore from the Vista Windows Recovery Environment

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial142.html

If you can get that drive in to another machine maybe an Administrator in that machine can Take Ownership of the drive a Change the Permissions (get rid of the Deny and grant Everyone (user group) Full Access. Fix the Permission properly if you get back into Vista.

If you have a copy of BartPE maybe you can change the Permissions (as above) from within that. BartPE (a mini XP self contained on a bootable CD and run from CD).

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP (or Vista)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421/en-us

How to reset security settings back to the defaults

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313222#appliesto

iCACLS.exe (2003 sp2 and Vista)

http://ss64.com/nt/icacls.html

takeown /f c:\

Sorry about the messy reply, but you must understand that this is a complicated topic based on no real practical experience of setting Deny on the main drive.




Otherwise it might be time to return to the Factory Defaults and reinstall Vista.

 

[rastaIT34]

Couple of questions....

I have the Start DVD right here....

How does the Startup Repair work?

If I do this will I lose my applications installed? What will I lose if i reinstall vista?

 

[BadBigBen]

are you using the ADMINISTRATOR account or a USER with administrative privileges?

How to Activate the Hidden Administrator Account

http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/vista/vista_administrator_activate.htm

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[strongm]

>As I try to do various functions in the command line I keep getting 'Access is denied'

You are running yor commandline with elevated permissions, aren't you?

If not then you should be ...

 

[rastaIT34]

i cant get to the command line in administrator mode so I can change the permissions.

Every time i right click cmd.exe to select 'run as administrator' i get - windows cant access the specified device path you may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.

 

[strongm]

Then try it this way (assuming that yiou are running with the Vista start menu rather than the Classic start menu)

1) Start button
2) Enter 'cmd.exe' into the Start Search box at bottom of Start menu
3) CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to start it with elevated privileges

 

[linney]

Startup Repair will probably not help you but it is simple enough to try and no it will not make any alterations to your data.

Startup Repair is a Windows recovery tool that can fix certain problems, such as missing or damaged system files, that might prevent Windows from starting.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Wi...809f-ed90-415f-a83f-89b42108b3551033.mspx#EFF

Startup Repair: frequently asked questions

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/5c59f8c1-b0d1-4f1a-af55-74f3922f3f351033.mspx

This might be your best option and even then there is no guarantee that it is going to fix the Deny Permission problem?

If you have a retail DVD some of the following might benefit you.

The method to perform a Repair Install is outlined in this thread. Just make sure you are repairing the correct ServicePack version with any repair media that you use. Good idea to make a backup of the whole partition first.

"set association troubles in vista"

http://social.answers.microsoft.com...e/thread/7d8343ea-b3ea-47f5-8a23-c128a733afd1

Or this one.

How To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

Repair Installation:

You may reinstall your copy of Vista while keeping your files, settings, and programs by performing a repair installation or an in-place upgrade with the following steps: (Note: This does not always resolve all issues, especially if the corruption was caused by a 3rd party program or service, you might need to do a clean installation if this is unsuccessful.)

 

[rastaIT34]

I tried this:

-------------
Then try it this way (assuming that yiou are running with the Vista start menu rather than the Classic start menu)

1) Start button
2) Enter 'cmd.exe' into the Start Search box at bottom of Start menu
3) CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to start it with elevated privileges
--------------


But nothing happens.... I'm currently trying the next posted method by Linney

 

[rastaIT34]

I finally got my permissions back after some considerable tinkering. It was resolved by following this thread:

http://social.answers.microsoft.com...7/thread/ac26ae06-cbbd-4ca3-94b9-aab903e517cc

Thank you all for your help and advice.

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Great to se that you persevered and got things working again!

Your plight reminded me of my early days administering a Novell network when I mistakenly removed all permissions on the SYS volume - No one could access it after that to fix it ( Luckily, it had only SYS stuff on it so building another one did not cost us any data - it did cost me lots of ribbing about trying to make a system so secure that no one could access it - or use it!)



To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."