Can't take ownership of a folder

[redblade8]

Hi, I can't seem to take ownership of a folder in windows 7. The folder is'program files', and is owned by trusted installer currently. I get the error message 'you only have permission to view the current owner on program files'. I've tried the registry key takeown.reg to have the right click take ownership, but it isn't letting me.

I've tried these steps:
i. Right-click the file or folder, click Properties, and then click the Security tab.
ii. Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.
iii. Click Edit, and then do one of the following:
iv. To change the owner to a user or group that is not listed, click Other users and groups and, in Enter the object name to select (examples), type the name of the user or group, and then click OK.
v. To change the owner to a user or group that is listed, in the Change owner to box, click the new owner.
vi. If you want to take ownership of the contents of the folder, select the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects check box.
vii. Click OK, and then click Yes when you receive the following message: You do not have permission to read the contents of directory folder name. Do you want to replace the directory permissions with permissions granting you Full Control?
viii. All permissions will be replaced if you click Yes.

All of the options to change the owner are greyed out.

Please can anyone help?

Thanks! =)

 

[townsbg]

Generally you shouldn't mess with permissions, including ownership, of system folders including program files. What is your reasoning for taking ownership? Do you want to break your programs?

 

[looked]

Hi, I can't seem to take ownership of a folder in windows 7. The folder is'program files', and is owned by trusted installer currently. I get the error message 'you only have permission to view the current owner on program files'. I've tried the registry key takeown.reg to have the right click take ownership, but it isn't letting me.

It's not clear if you're the computer owner or administrator but if you're not, there should be restrictions made by the administrator to prevent a "guest" or sort of, to install, create or delete anything form within Programs Files directory (and similar folders) including of course Window folder.

 

[Barman58]

Trusted installer is a Super administrator it is above the level of the administrators group and thus the actual administrators and has to have ownership and full control of all system folders related to program files. This is concerned with the virtualisation systems used for running 32Bit code in a 64Bit system and also various security systems.

Taking ownership of large parts of the system areas is the quickest way to accelerate the need for a total reinstall of Windows.

I have seen it done using the hidden administrator or a Domain Administrator in a Client server system, but only for individual folders or files and then only in extreme situations

 

[Barman58]

You should be able to give your actual user access to Edit files in the program files area, often required when bad developers still insist in placing config files, that a user may need to edit, in a programs folder in Program files (or Program Files (X86).

Simply select the file or folder you need to change, (not system files but 3rd party configs), as an administrator and add your username to the permissions list, and set rights required ( easy way use Full Control),to edit as needed.

Remember You do not need to Own a file to use it or edit it - Ownership is a specialist right and should only be changed in emergencies, there are more secure and simpler ways to do what is required

 

[MSClin]

I don't know if you talk about the program files folder which is located next to Windows folder, but if you talk about this folder - don't mess with the permissions for this folder, in fact don't even mess with the permissions of every system folder... I would like to explain why, but you will need 30 min to read and understand. So, in short said - you will need to reinstall Windows after doing this, maybe not immediately, but when specific problems start to appear, you will need to. But to answer your question, the steps below should work if you are with Administrator account.

Right click on folder > Properties > Security > Advanced > Owner > Edit. Now make yourself a owner and apply. Return to Permissions tab and click Manage Permissions, then click Remove until you see that nobody has permission for this folder (if Remove is grayed out, remove the check on "Include inheritable permissions from this object's parent" and click Remove in the dialog which popped up). Now click on Add, type your username and give full control. After doing all of this, check "Include inheritable permissions from this object's parent" again, then > Apply > OK.

Now you can do whatever you want with this folder/file.