Windows 7 - C; access denied

I am running Win 7 Home Premium. I messed with the C: drive security and fowled things up good.
I can run all applications, log on to the internet, etc..
When I try to access the C: drive: Access Denied. I cannot read files with WIn Explorer. I cannot open document files with the Word Processor, etc.
In the Local Disk C: Properties Group User Names I see: SYSEM and Adminstrators (myname). The Adminstrator has all permissions but I still cannot access the drive or files.
When I go to the command prompt I see: C:\Users\(my name) and I cannot access any other directory.
The drive files must be intact as all applications run, I can shut down and start and everything else is okay. Must be in the security setting somewhere.
Help Please

Hello ronmjackson. Welcome to the Forum

The first thing you should try is to do a System Restore to a time before you made the changes that caused this problem.

If that is not possible or does not work then try this:


Go to Start > Computer
Right click on the C: drive, click Properties.
Click the Security tab
Click the Advanced button > Owner > Edit
Make sure the box for Replace owner on subcontainers and objects is checked
Click Apply , OK
Wait. It could take some time before it changes ownership.

See if the issue is solved.


If that is not allowed you may need to remove the hard drive from your computer and install it as a secondary drive in another computer running Windows 7 and then perform the above steps - then reinstall it in yours.


Let us know what the results are.

THAT WILL JUST MAKE IT WORSE!!!
DO NOT DO THE ABOVE! DO NOT!

What you need to do with put back the permissions you removed or changed. But do not do so in a recursive manner.

Try System Restore

System Restore