Windows 7: Windows files, folders and drive ownership issues!

So I formatted my system today and did a clean install of Windows 8 and now my USB storage drive says cannot access. I remember vaguely adding permissions or taking ownership to the files when I was on Win 7 but dont remember what it is I did exactly. I was trying to hide my files from other users who logged into my computer and I strongly believe that I took ownership of those files. Now I went to the security properties of the drive and took ownership of the files again and the files show/run. Question is how do I remove all the permissions or give away ownership to the files and drive so that anybody can see and use the files on the drive?

Basically if I format my PC again and when I browse my storage drive it shouldn't bug me for ownership or permissions. or if I put the drive in another PC it shouldn't ask for me for ownership/permissions. How do undo this?

Hello wildgoat,

Using the tutorial below as a guide, you could add the Everyone group (if not already there), and set it's permissions to "Allow" "Full control" to let everyone have full access to it.

Permissions - Allow or Deny Users and Groups

Even better, set the owner to be Everyone with Full Control.

Hope this helps,
Shawn