No admin rights and C:\ is read-only

[neobazz]

Hey there all, i've been running Win7 since the first beta and have been having no trouble at all. However, a little while ago, i noticed that my entire C: drive has been set to read-only. I was attempting to install Apache on it, and it worked great. However, when I went to go change the config file, it said i didn't have permission to save it. So I checked and it seems that every file and folder was set to read-only.

I tried unchecking the read-only box and applying settings to all subfolders, etc., but it said I needed admin rights. I activated the Administrator account and tried it on there, and it said I needed admin privileges again. I tried it through command prompt and no luck there either. I tried running a virus scan, rootkit scan and nothing there.

I eventually just reinstalled the OS with build-7068 (I was previously running 7057). Still, no luck. Everything is read-only still and I'm not able to edit any files on the C: drive at all, and it still shows up that I need admin rights. However, i can save files and install programs.

Does anyone know whats wrong, or if there is a possible fix? Thank you in advance, by the way.

 

[jfar]

Hi, neobazz, have you got UAC turned on ,or off.

 

[neobazz]

Its currently set at its default setting: "Default - Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer".

 

[jfar]

Hi, just try this for me.Turn it off, just for a while, and try to see if you can do whatever you were trying to do, you might have to reboot after you turn it off.

 

[neobazz]

I turned off UAC and rebooted. I still can't uncheck "Read-only" from any folder on the C: drive. It continues to say I need admin privileges. Any idea whats causing this?

 

[YupYup]

That is standard behavior for C: the user can only write to a directory he has permission for. Right click apache and choose "run as administrator" then it will be able to write the config.

 

[neobazz]

@YupYup: Shouldn't I have permission to write to any directory? I am running as the main Administrator after a clean install.

@jfar: I installed DriverMax to install a driver for my display to be able to view in a higher resolution than 640x480. I did a system restore though to right after the clean install - undoing any driver installations.

 

[jfar]

When it is solved turn back on UAC.I was to late to tell you to use "run as administrator.

 

[jfar]

Has windows not installed a video driver for you,if not check to see if you have any new installations waitng to be installed in Windows Update.

 

[neobazz]

I still can't seem to find the issue. I tried all UAC settings. I checked user privileges and everything seems to be unchecked. It seems no account has privileges to do anything.

@jfar: It has one installed for a standard VGA device. However, it restricts my resolution to 640x480. I installed an updated one from intel which works.

 

[YupYup]

@YupYup: Shouldn't I have permission to write to any directory? I am running as the main Administrator after a clean install.

If you enabled the adminstrator account (disabled by default) and are logged into that then yes, if you are logged into a user account who is a member of the adminstrator group then no.

 

[jfar]

How do I restore security settings to the default settings? Just try this link ,you might see something that will help.I am not saying it will but may be worth a try.

 

[neobazz]

I jut tried jfar's solution and it did not work.

Right now I activated the Admin account from lusrmgr and deactivated my main user account - so I am running under the Administrator account now. I still cannot write anything to the C: drive.

 

[YupYup]

what path is shown when you open the command prompt?

 

[jfar]

Try this link and see if it helps. http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/4904-newsid-exe-help.html#post44957

 

[neobazz]

@YupYup: Normally its C:\Users\Administrator>. However, I am able to get it to C:\Windows\System32> from going into task manager, opening new cmd.exe as Admin. But they both have the same non-admin access.

@jfar: I am having no luck even booting into Safe Mode. I'll try a couple more ways though.

 

[jfar]

Did you change anything in Folder Options?

 

[YupYup]

@YupYup: Normally its C:\Users\Administrator>. However, I am able to get it to C:\Windows\System32> from going into task manager, opening new cmd.exe as Admin. But they both have the same non-admin access.

C:\Users\Administrator would indicate you are logged into the adminstrator account where you should have permission. Post a screenshot of the adminstrators permissions in the security tab of the properties on C:

 

[neobazz]

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2676/29216706.png
^screenshot

 

[YupYup]

Yes you should have permission, try the command to restore the security settings that jfar gave the link for.

secedit /configure /cfg %windir%\inf\defltbase.inf /db defltbase.sdb /verbose

You will need to restart after.