Permission issues. Fed up with "You do not have permission to....."
First, the important intro: I'm running two Win7 systems: my desktop runs 64bit Win7 Ultimate, the laptop is Win7 64bit home version. Both were clean installs, are routinely scanned for viruses, malware, hardware problems, regularly defragged, etc. I run lean machines; the only TSR (for all you DOS gurus!!) I run is Antivir (running in the background).
The problems
Most of us have seen these error msgs from time to time: "you need permission to perform this action", or "you require permission from the computer's administrator...", and less often "you cannot delete file as it is open in another....".
Every now and then, my computers tell me I cannot rename, delete, move, or open a particular folder or file. The folders//files in question are NOT system, hidden, page, shared, locked, etc. They could be something I've installed yesterday, a game for my wife for example, mp3s, whatever. For the love of Pete I can't figure out WHY this is happening!!!! But wait, there's more! This does NOT occur all of the time, but seems to be a hit and miss event...joy!
Example: A folder contains a bunch of files, plus one or two sub-folders. I click on the folder, tap the delete key, or use the context menu delete command, then one of the above errors pop up. OK, I open the folder, select all, tap the delete key, and poof, everything IS deleted. Back up one level, delete the folder. WTF is going on ? I may have to drill down to the lowest sub-folder level before I can start deleting their contents; sometimes I can delete files and sub-folders in one go, other times I cannot.
Another scenario: Let's use the same ordinary folder setup we just discussed. I'll try to delete the folder...nope, error. If I then wait....say 4-5 minutes, then try again, guess what ? It works now!!! Nothing is done during that 4-5 minute period that would influence the outcome, e.g. no other software is open or closed. Please note that the delay in deletion is not universal, i.e. it does not work every time, not is the time interval between the original unsucessful 'delete' request and the second, now successful attempt consistent. Seems almost 'random'...the worst bugs.
Now, a little personal info: I have a deep background in programming, beginning in the early 80's. I've built numerous systems, worked on private and government software projects, and have a thorough knowledge of Windows. I am saying this in an effort to avoid the usual responses doled out to newbs - 'have you tried running in safe mode', or 'check for a virus'... please! This sort of this did not happen under XP, 98, 95, even 3.1! I am convinced it has something to do with permissions and/or Win7's biggest drawback: treating users like we are all morons. I had hoped that foolishness dies with Vista.... sadly, it did not.
PLEASE do not tell me to:
- try changing the permissions for each file I cannot delete
- reboot each time this happens
- do a clean re-install on both systems
- check for viruses, hard drive issues, defrag, etc.
- buy the whole UAC crap.
Lastly, I AM the system admin on both machines, I have UAC disabled (duh!). I do not want nor need 'protection' from myself. I simply want Win7 to work at least as well as 98, which means let me make the decisions.
I am looking for a solution to this constant source of irritation. The only idea I could come up with was to run my systems using the hidden Admin account, but alas my attempts at copying my user profiles to this account has so far been unsuccessful
I am not asking to have access to rewrite the kernel, just to perform basic file manipulation without calling down the wrath of the gods on the MS coders who created this ...mess!
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and respond to my thread.
First, the important intro: I'm running two Win7 systems: my desktop runs 64bit Win7 Ultimate, the laptop is Win7 64bit home version. Both were clean installs, are routinely scanned for viruses, malware, hardware problems, regularly defragged, etc. I run lean machines; the only TSR (for all you DOS gurus!!) I run is Antivir (running in the background).
The problems
Most of us have seen these error msgs from time to time: "you need permission to perform this action", or "you require permission from the computer's administrator...", and less often "you cannot delete file as it is open in another....".
Every now and then, my computers tell me I cannot rename, delete, move, or open a particular folder or file. The folders//files in question are NOT system, hidden, page, shared, locked, etc. They could be something I've installed yesterday, a game for my wife for example, mp3s, whatever. For the love of Pete I can't figure out WHY this is happening!!!! But wait, there's more! This does NOT occur all of the time, but seems to be a hit and miss event...joy!
Example: A folder contains a bunch of files, plus one or two sub-folders. I click on the folder, tap the delete key, or use the context menu delete command, then one of the above errors pop up. OK, I open the folder, select all, tap the delete key, and poof, everything IS deleted. Back up one level, delete the folder. WTF is going on ? I may have to drill down to the lowest sub-folder level before I can start deleting their contents; sometimes I can delete files and sub-folders in one go, other times I cannot.
Another scenario: Let's use the same ordinary folder setup we just discussed. I'll try to delete the folder...nope, error. If I then wait....say 4-5 minutes, then try again, guess what ? It works now!!! Nothing is done during that 4-5 minute period that would influence the outcome, e.g. no other software is open or closed. Please note that the delay in deletion is not universal, i.e. it does not work every time, not is the time interval between the original unsucessful 'delete' request and the second, now successful attempt consistent. Seems almost 'random'...the worst bugs.
Now, a little personal info: I have a deep background in programming, beginning in the early 80's. I've built numerous systems, worked on private and government software projects, and have a thorough knowledge of Windows. I am saying this in an effort to avoid the usual responses doled out to newbs - 'have you tried running in safe mode', or 'check for a virus'... please! This sort of this did not happen under XP, 98, 95, even 3.1! I am convinced it has something to do with permissions and/or Win7's biggest drawback: treating users like we are all morons. I had hoped that foolishness dies with Vista.... sadly, it did not.
PLEASE do not tell me to:
- try changing the permissions for each file I cannot delete
- reboot each time this happens
- do a clean re-install on both systems
- check for viruses, hard drive issues, defrag, etc.
- buy the whole UAC crap.
Lastly, I AM the system admin on both machines, I have UAC disabled (duh!). I do not want nor need 'protection' from myself. I simply want Win7 to work at least as well as 98, which means let me make the decisions.
I am looking for a solution to this constant source of irritation. The only idea I could come up with was to run my systems using the hidden Admin account, but alas my attempts at copying my user profiles to this account has so far been unsuccessful
I am not asking to have access to rewrite the kernel, just to perform basic file manipulation without calling down the wrath of the gods on the MS coders who created this ...mess!
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and respond to my thread.
My Computer
At a glance
Win7 64bit
- OS
- Win7 64bit
Your suggestion regarding moving the user data is a good one, something I will have to try asap. Thanks for the help guys, I will post back when and if anything works.
