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#1
System user no longer has permissions to access C:\Windows
My PC (Asus P8Z77-M PRO with Intel i-7 3770, 32GB RAM, 2TB system drive with 3 x 3TB hard drives) started up this morning and was working fine. I left it unattended for a few minutes but when I returned to it, it was very "slow" - basically would not load programs, etc, but the cursor moved and I could switch windows, but little else.
I had to use the power button to reboot into safe mode (with networking) and the system logs showed absolutely nothing abnormal until booting into safe mode where it stated that many services failed because there was no access. However, the PC appeared to work normally in safe mode.
So I checked the system properties for C:\Windows and found that Administrators and Users (just myself) had the normal basic rights, but SYSTEM had none at all, nor did CREATOR OWNER, while Trusted Installer just had special rights (but that seems to be the same as my other PC).
If I tried to edit the System rights, everything was greyed out and all boxes empty, with the "add" and "remove" boxes not available. When I went into "advanced", instead of one SYSTEM being listed with "Full control" (as per the other PC), there were 2, each with permissions summarised as "special", one for this folder only and the second for subfolders as well. When I tried to change permissions, the first (for Windows only) had all boxes were greyed out and all ticked EXCEPT for "full control" and "delete subfolders" but also "Permissions" and "Take ownership". However the second (with subfolders) had all boxes ticked including "full control" - but greyed out.
I have no idea how this happened, and is unlikely to be a virus or malware as I run Comodo Premium with Firewall, and I do not allow that PC internet access except to the Comodo site for updates. I manually enable internet access if I need it, but I do all my internet stuff on my other PC (that I am using now).
I realise I am on the very edge of losing the PC (in terms of having to reload everything from scratch). Everything is backed up, so there are no issues there - just the massive hassle of reloading software and getting al the settings back to where they should be - and since it is nearly 5 years since I built the PC, it is well fine-tuned but I don't have a clue what all the optimised settings are any more.
Can anyone advise me on the way forward - preferably someone who has experienced this exact problem before and knows what will happen, However, anyone with a suggestion is welcome to reply.
I think I have 2 options:
(1) I could try to delete the first "SYSTEM" in C:/Windows Properties - but I don't see how I can because I don't have the required permissions
(2) I could try to do a system restore under safe mode, but without permissions, I cannot see it working either.
Over to you ....