Cannot Delete Pevious Owner/Administrator Due To File Open In Another

CAG43 · 05 Apr 2017

For several weeks now I have been trying various methods in trying to delete the former owner/administrator that came with my HP8460p Win Pro 7 64 bit laptop computer.

I followed the tutorial in Security and would like to know if I might have chosen the incorrect options somewhere along the way.
FYI - my account is CAG and the account that came with the computer is hp.
You may have seen my posts on this before.

This is what happened:

I went to Users/Properties/Securities.
The options to check were,
1. Everyone, 2. System, 3.Administrators (CAG-NB) Administrators and 4. Users (CAG-NB -Users).
I selected option, 3.

That brought me to "Change Permissions" where I clicked on, "Edit."
I checked all but one option which were, 1. Read and Execute, 2. List Folder Contacts, 3. Read/Write, 4. Special Permissions.
Number 4, Special Permissions would not let me check it.

So, I next went on to Advanced where it said I must be an administrator user with permission to view the object's security properties.
I clicked and filled in "Change Owner" to CAG (CAG-NB(CAG).

The other choice was Administrators (CAG-NB)/Administrators.
Then I clicked on, Replace all child objects permissions with inheritable permissions from this object.

The last two options were either to replace or include all inheritable permissions from this object's [aren't.

I tried both options and was given the message that an error occurred and I don't have permission because the file is running in another program.

The other program, I am guessing, is the original owner/administrator, hp, which I have been trying to delete.

Can someone tell me if I missed something by checking the wrong option along the way?
This has really got me stumped and I would like to know if it something I did or did not do.

All thought would be very welcome!

CAG43

marsmimar · 10 Apr 2017

Please forgive me if I've misunderstood your question. In your title you indicate "Cannot Delete ... File Open In Another." I'm guessing you're saying the file is locked because it's open or in use by another program or user. If that's the case you might be able to use this free tool from Malwarebytes.

Malwarebytes | FileASSASSIN - Free Software to Delete Locked Files

Again, if I misunderstood your question I sincerely apologize.

jacky99 · 10 Apr 2017

@CAG43, to change the permissions level of Admin/User is so easy. Here is a simple way after click the Users/Properties/Securities > click Advanced > Change Permissions at the bottom (don't touch any button on above) > and select User/Admin you preferred, then click Edit button. Now you can change what you like to Allow or Deny > then OK, Apply, OK all to close.

pramardhika · 27 Apr 2017

Hi CAG43!

IMO, you cannot delete it because there is a running program in your "HP" user account and the account itself is not yet logged off.
Or
Your account "CAG" has no permission as administrator to manage another account. To check this, click windows logo in bottom left corner of desktop and type "user account" in search bar. Is your CAG profile has Administrator status already? If it's not, then you have to change it as administrator.