Comments on: Easier Way to Take Ownership and Grant Access Files or Directories in Vista

By: christine

christine — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:10:08 +0000

is there a command to undo permission changes?

By: christine

christine — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:58:40 +0000

oh yikes. Typed in the commands zephan listed above (with a “.” for current directory — which clearly was not cautious enough of me!).
Now, I am getting “access denied” messages when I attempt to start any programs (they were fine before). The files with screwed up permissions that i was trying to fix are still blocking me, too. AHHH… is there a script to undo what I just did?

By: sherry

sherry — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:08:56 +0000

I just tried both the cmd method and the type it in method. Neither worked. I still, in the command window, get ERROR: Access is denied.

I lost access when I re-formatted the external disk. Any other suggestions?

By: zephan

zephan — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:12:38 +0000

THANK YOU! This was a lifesaver. I had over 5000 files to fix.

TIP: No download needed. Open cmd.exe command prompt As Administrator, then enter following commands in order (replacing %1 with desired path/filename or “.” for current directory):
takeown /f %1 /r /d y icacls %1 /grant administrators:F /t

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:55:49 +0000

This just saved me HOURS. The windows GUI approach had literally been running for over 3 hours, and the script finished the job in about 10 seconds.

By: Joe Naylor

Joe Naylor — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:20:35 +0000

In my opinion the Take Ownership option on the right-click menu should be recursive anyway. Rather than trying to use the script above, you can fix the right-click option simply by using regedit to edit this key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas\command

Verify the contents look similar to this, and change it to:

cmd.exe /c takeown /f “%1″ /r /d y && icacls “%1″ /grant administrators:F /t

All that does is add the “/r” recursion option to the takeown command and “/t” option to icacls, and I included a “/d y” to answer “Yes” to any questions which you can take or leave.

Of course the registry can be dangerous to meddle in if you’re careless, so just take it slow and make sure you’re editing the right thing.

By: Tips to Slim Down Vista » My Digital Life

Tips to Slim Down Vista » My Digital Life — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:05:21 +0000

[...] permissions to users’ account for the directories and all sub-folders recursively. Use TakeControlOf command script or add a Take Ownership in right click menu to easily do the [...]

By: Freddy

Freddy — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:10:51 +0000

Quiero acceder a una carpeta

By: Bruno

Bruno — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:08:30 +0000

Thanks for the batch file.

Just note that it might not work in some locales such as mine (Spanish) due to the “y” value in takeown being “s” instead.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:53:15 +0000

does anyone run this and it goes on forever?

By: How to Take Ownership and Full Control Permissions of Files and Folders in Vista » Tip and Trick

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:09:51 +0000

[...] two commands have been scripted in Windows command shell batch script that easily perform the task of taking ownership and grant full control permissions to [...]

By: Delete Undeletable Files in Windows Vista » My Digital Life

Delete Undeletable Files in Windows Vista » My Digital Life — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:59:52 +0000

[...] can also prepared a Windows shell batch script that automate the process for easy take back the files and folders which is inaccessible and [...]

By: Jutha

Jutha — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:03:32 +0000

THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH. I was foaming at the mouth after I had to buy a new lappie cuz my old one died and when I thought I had to change permissions on every file by hand I was just fuming. It goes to show that the command line is just the most wonderful and conistent and comforting way to get things done.

By: » 10 things that can go wrong when you upgrade your operating system | 10 Things | TechRepublic.com

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:01:28 +0000

[...] This can also happen with real files and folders if your user account information has changed in the new version of Windows. Or you might be trying to access system files. You may be able to fix the problem by taking ownership of the object. You’ll need to be logged on as an administrator to do that. For more on how this works, see “Easier Way to Take Ownership and Grant Access Files or Directories in Vista.” [...]

By: Eric J

Eric J — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:02:24 +0000

Or does anyone know of another script like it?

By: Eric J

Eric J — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:01:24 +0000

The download link for the TakeControlOf.zip is no longer working (at least for me). Has it been taken down?