The lock icon is annoying. It's sure to become a hot "Windows 7 sucks" topic because it is so inscrutable and so difficult to figure out how to remove.
I successfully removed the lock icon previsouly but tonight I can;t do it again. [Edit ] See Below...
It does have somethign to do with user permissions, but taking ownership isn't it. The method I used had something to do with resharing with everyone using the REAL share dialogs, then closing the explorer window and unsharing with everyeone and the lock dissapeared. (Not closing the window causes a "one user is connected to the share" warnings)
Alas, I can;t get rid of the lock now myself
Added to the annoyance is that the lock icon itself largely doesn;t seem necessary or is over informative and yet they removed the share icon overlay which was VERY imformative
[EDIT]
Ok, the hack way to get rid of the icon:
1) Right click offending folder, go to properties, Sharing, Share,
2) Select "Everyone" in the drop list, click Add, then in the permission level drop list set to Read/Write.
3) Click Share, then done.
4) Click Advanced Sharing.
5) Uncheck "Share this folder" then OK and CLose.
Simple eh?
GRRRR!
I don;t know if this is a common way of getting into this mess but I have "Home Sharing" turned off. I have a small Workgroup all set up and didn't want to reset everything else. Unfortuantely even with homegroups off, the "Sharing" context menus are for homegroup sharing.
and using the "Share with nobody" to turn off sharing that you applied elsewise seems to be the way I get into this situation.
From now on, sharing and unsharing in a workgroup situation apparently all need to be done from the properties menu only (Sure wish those homegroup sharing context menus would dissapear when you turn off homegroups, or better yet, revert to the workgroup sharing like they used to be)