Windows 7 - How to remove lock icon from folders?

Before posting, I had tried Unlocker. Right-click offered no options, tried accessing files from with CS4-Bridge and from other directories. Ran a thorough Norton scan and no malware was found. Connected the external HD to a different Windows 7 computer and both Bridge and CS4 worked properly. Image-files I opened were not locked. Thus the problem seems somewhat narrowed in scope - a setting or something in the other Windows 7 computer (which had been running Bridge and CS4 quite well).

That's a good advice. I also found out that it's not a good idea to change permissions on anything in
the Windows folder or subfolders,
the Program Files folder or subfolders,
the recycle bin or
System Volume Information.
Don't try this at home, at work or wherever.
Don't mess with C:\ , if you set permissions for C:\ plus all inherited folders and files, the fastest disaster recovery will be a full reinstall.

well crap. i did happen to mess with C:/ how do i return it do its defaults?

and my folder isnt locked, but a WAV. file is.

Try a System Restore.

And My advice to everyone is,, to just ignore the locks unless you can't access a file or folder that you know you should be able to.

Then come here and ask about it.

Yes, 7 is different, sure we want to learn about the differences, but I think (imo) too much is being made of all this (and other things) that novices shouldn't really be concerned with.
But they see a bunch of hoopla being made over something quite insignificant and think, "Hey, I should be worried about this too", when really they shouldn't be.

In other words, some things should just be left alone.

In my opinion of course.

Will the system restore delete everything i have?

also, will it make my computer run weaker in the future?

See this tutorial on System Restore

No, it should not delete everything you have.

No, it should not make the system run weaker.

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and with that, I rest my case. (no offense intended stillwater)

Wow, system restore just to remove a lock from one file - that's too extreme to my taste. In my system I found that the lock has something to do with permissions. If you want to remove the lock, you have to take ownership of the file, make sure no weird users are on the permissions, make sure you have full permissions and sometimes (if all else fails) add user Everyone and give full permissions. That last one would unlock anything, however, you have to consider security. In my case though - I am the only user of the machine - there are no security issues. In your case - that's your call. Simply a wav file - I would not think adding Everyone puts you at any risk. But then again, I don't know your circumstances.

No,, he broke something while messing around with the locks (i assume) that needs fixed, that a System Restore Point might fix.

Not to use System Restore to remove the picture of a lock on a file.

And this is being thrown around way too much.

People need to be careful about using Take Ownership, you do not want to do this just to do this. You need to know what you are taking ownership of and why.

Sure, you're right. However, on an actually personal computer - I see no problem that can arise from being the owner of your own files. I was responding to the phrase "and my folder isnt locked, but a WAV. file is" . I figured he messed up permissions somehow and can't access his own file. Taking ownership is the fastest solution to that. At the same time, I would not recommend messing with permissions of system files and so on. That being said, a wav file is not anything that can cause any problems, right?

Well, the problem is,,, TakeOwn is a very powerful tool, which should not be given as a casual answer.

It needs to be explained and pointed out that, it should not be used willy nilly just cause you don't have rights to something. And it is thrown around way too much in my opinion. So I am trying to do a little educating on the subject.