How to undue a 'permission' problem on a drive?

This one is a doozy. For some reason my hard drive has gone nuts. It said on startup that there were bad files then proceeded to delete then restore. At the end it was removing some error security number and applying a new one to almost 50000 files. When it started back up the drive icon was gone and the square box with the little circles was in it. Then it stated I couldn't delete anything as the waste basket was in error. Fixed that manually and finally got the icon back. NOW the problem is any time I access a folder it says I don't have authority and then that damn little lock appears. I have tried the fix PER FOLDER but the whole drive is acting this way, even files that are NOT in folders state I don't have permission and then I go through the whole process and it fixes THAT file. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE NOR DO I HAVE IT ON ANY OTHER DRIVE.... IS there a way to enter the proper info in ONE TIME and have it globally apply to ALL the files on that hard drive?? I really can't afford to lose this info and to do it singly will certainly be a PAIN.... ANY HELP appreciated!! Thanks and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all..

speedracer said:

This one is a doozy. For some reason my hard drive has gone nuts. It said on startup that there were bad files then proceeded to delete then restore. At the end it was removing some error security number and applying a new one to almost 50000 files. When it started back up the drive icon was gone and the square box with the little circles was in it. Then it stated I couldn't delete anything as the waste basket was in error. Fixed that manually and finally got the icon back. NOW the problem is any time I access a folder it says I don't have authority and then that damn little lock appears. I have tried the fix PER FOLDER but the whole drive is acting this way, even files that are NOT in folders state I don't have permission and then I go through the whole process and it fixes THAT file. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE NOR DO I HAVE IT ON ANY OTHER DRIVE.... IS there a way to enter the proper info in ONE TIME and have it globally apply to ALL the files on that hard drive?? I really can't afford to lose this info and to do it singly will certainly be a PAIN.... ANY HELP appreciated!! Thanks and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all..

You are between a rock and a hard place. You can apply the "change" to the root of the drive with a "/s" (for sub directories) switch but if the data is that important I would be very care.

You have no idea what state the folders are in, which have the change, which dont, etc.

Of course you dont have a backup to restore from or a restore point.

Easiest way is to re-install. Failing that a repair install "MAY" help.



Ken j

My instinct says this drive is in the process of failing. I would run some heavy duty diags on it ad plan to replace it.