Solved Ownership, permissions and now access denied

[miked]

I have a WD elite hard drive that was set up on my old computer. I had changed ownership on the drive and used the Smartware to do backups. I'm pretty sure that I deleted some of the other owners when I was there too. I have a new computer and was able to change ownership back to me and can access 80% of my folders. When I try to change to full control in the ownership tab of the properties of my external drive. It will change ownership of everything except my pictures folder. I know its there, because I get an access denied pop up when I try to change permissions on the drive. I have disabled the VCD of the smartware and I am stuck now.

I'm hoping I haven't lost these.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Britton30]

Can you open the pictures folder and see your files?

 

[miked]

N://pictures doesn't show up in windows explorer. I know it is there, because when I tried to change ownership of the whole drive, it said access denied for this location along with a few others.

 

[Britton30]

Post a snip of the drive's property window, one with each tab open, maybe I can notice something.

This is the preferred, best way to upload an image or a file to a post.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html#post93869

Press the ALT and PrntScrn keys at the same time, this will capture only the active window to use in Paint or your preferred graphics editor.


You may also upload a photo or image you already have on your PC,as you would a file, without using the Snipping tool.

 

[miked]

Here are a few, let me know if you need more. Thanks for trying to help me out!

 

[Britton30]

Let's see the permissions of each Group/User here:

 

[miked]

thanks for helping me out through this! Assuming (I know, I know) you didn't need the screenshot for owner. I added that permission BTW, based on some another forums thread. I may have deleted some of the ownerships as well when I moved this drive the first time. Again, Much Thanks!

 

[lehnerus2000]

If you have a spare HDD (with enough space) you could:

1. Try copying the files using a Live Linux CD/DVD/USB (e.g. Ubuntu)
2. Try to reformat the problem drive

 

[miked]

If you have a spare HDD (with enough space) you could:

1. Try copying the files using a Live Linux CD/DVD/USB (e.g. Ubuntu)
2. Try to reformat the problem drive

I have the space to copy the whole drive, but am not familiar with linux/ubuntu. Is there a link that can be offered to learn? Will booting into linux/ubuntu show files that windows is hiding?

 

[Computer0304]

Here's a tutorial for the process: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/287439-emergency-kit-save-your-files-dead-os.html Instead of the Windows 7 partition, try opening the WD Elite.

 

[miked]

I was able to use an Ubuntu live disc and all the files were there! I was able to copy them to another drive and can't thank you all enough for the help! Now that I have all that cleaned up, if I format the N drive, will that give me back all the space I couldn't see before? What should I do to make that drive fresh like new?

Thanks again for all the help. I have purchased cyber 12 packs for all of you! Enjoy them while they are cold

 

[lehnerus2000]

Live Linux discs are very handy

Glad to hear that you were able to rescue your files (those Live Linux discs are very handy).

The WD Elite you mentioned is an external drive, yes?
If yes, then you should be able to delete the existing partitions and reformat the HDD (read "Note" below first).
You can use Windows Disk Management (or GParted on the Live Ubuntu disc) to do this.

Note:
You should view that HDD using Windows Disk Management to check out how it has been set up, before reformatting.
It's probably worth posting a screenshot of the Windows Disk Management screen, as it may be helpful to other members (if you still experience issues).

I recall reading something about a certain model of WD External HDDs having built-in/pre-loaded software that can't be deleted.
I haven't encountered one of these, so I can't tell you anything more about it.

Someone else here may know more about it.

 

[Computer0304]

Glad to hear that you were able to rescue your files (those Live Linux discs are very handy).

The WD Elite you mentioned is an external drive, yes?
If yes, then you should be able to delete the existing partitions and reformat the HDD (read "Note" below first).
You can use Windows Disk Management (or GParted on the Live Ubuntu disc) to do this.

Note:
You should view that HDD using Windows Disk Management to check out how it has been set up, before reformatting.
It's probably worth posting a screenshot of the Windows Disk Management screen, as it may be helpful to other members (if you still experience issues).

I recall reading something about a certain model of WD External HDDs having built-in/pre-loaded software that can't be deleted.
I haven't encountered one of these, so I can't tell you anything more about it.

Someone else here may know more about it.

Well, mine comes with it but I'm not sure if they are deletable or not.

 

[miked]

I believe this is what we are talking about.

Remove the VCD from my drive. - WD Community

I'm pretty sure that enabling this "smartware" was the first thing I did wrong. I then changed permissions and/or ownerships, then got a new computer, tried to change it again. I'm just glad using Ubuntu worked! After going through this, that smartware isn't all it's cracked up to be. I'm also an idiot, but I understand that

 

[lehnerus2000]

I believe this is what we are talking about.

Remove the VCD from my drive. - WD Community

That seems like the issue I was thinking of.

After going through this, that smartware isn't all it's cracked up to be.

In my experience a lot of these auto-helper programs make life more difficult, not easier.