Solved How to get access to Document and Settings?

[RadxBoy]

I'm a new user to Windows 7 (from XP), and I'm finding it difficult to get access to files and folders I used to have. I set the PC up with me as administrator and my wife with a standard account. I want full access to Documents and Settings. When ever I try to access it I get the following barrage of warnings:



This last I have no idea how to fill out, if it's even necessary.
Can someone please walk me through how to get access to these files?

Thanks you!

 

[StalkeR]

Hello. Try with Taking Ownership
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html

 

[t-4-2]

I'm a new user to Windows 7 (from XP), and I'm finding it difficult to get access to files and folders I used to have. I set the PC up with me as administrator and my wife with a standard account. I want full access to Documents and Settings. When ever I try to access it I get the following barrage of warnings:
View attachment 159749
View attachment 159750
View attachment 159751
This last I have no idea how to fill out, if it's even necessary.
Can someone please walk me through how to get access to these files?

Thanks you!

This is just an initial answer.....

1. First screenshot :
Just click Continue, and you will be allowed in.

2. 2nd screenshot and 3rd screenshot :
I think those 2 are tied in together.
Go back to the Security window shown by your last screenshot > click Hank (Hank-HP\Hank )
Where are the arrows located ? Are they all under Allow or one or two are under Deny ?
Do the same on Administrator ( Hank-HP\Hank ).

Please post the screenshots on those 2.

 

[MacGyvr]

PLEASE CHECK YOUR ADVICE BEFORE POSTING!!!

Windows 7 DOES NOT use "documents and settings" and if you take ownership of it or change permissions on it, you WILL screw up your computer to the point of needing to reinstall!

The correct path is c:\users for Windows 7. Documents and Settings is a junction point to that location. If you don't know what that means, you don't need to. DO NOT change permissions or take ownership of the documents and settings folder if you have one.

Read more here:
Junction Points in Vista (Yes, Vista...it applies to the subject)

and here:
Junction Dysfunction by Raymond Chen

 

[RadxBoy]

errr... before the posts from t-4-2 and MacGyvr were posted, I tried the suggestion from StalkeR about taking ownership. It seems to have worked fime so far...

If I run into problems, I'll mention it.

Thanks to all.

 

[MacGyvr]

errr... before the posts from t-4-2 and MacGyvr were posted, I tried the suggestion from StalkeR about taking ownership. It seems to have worked fime so far...

If I run into problems, I'll mention it.

Thanks to all.

You will....you're going to see infinite looping paths when you go into certain folders. The BEST thing you can do immediately is to perform a System Restore to a point before you made those changes. I CANNOT emphasize how important it is that you do this.

You DO NOT need access to documents and settings....c:\users is the SAME location and you have full access to it already.

 

[StalkeR]

Glad that your problem is solved.

 

[MacGyvr]

Glad that your problem is solved.

If he took your advice, his problems have just begun.

 

[RadxBoy]

Can anyone else on the Forums shed some light on the sharp disagreement in the above comments?

 

[davehc]

Certainly. Macgyvr is 100% correct. Your problem is not solved, it has only just began. You will get loops and duplicates of programs and files throughout, to the extent that, as stated you will probably have to restore. It serves no useful purpose to open up a "junction" folder, which is why Microsoft hid it.
Referring to your op. The files you are seeking now live under the username folder

 

[RadxBoy]

I will do a Restore (never done one before, but I found the Tutorial on this Forum) tonight. Then I will address the original problem again. Thank you.

 

[MacGyvr]

I will do a Restore (never done one before, but I found the Tutorial on this Forum) tonight. Then I will address the original problem again. Thank you.

You've missed the point. There is no problem. You don't use documents and settings. You use the users folder. It is the SAME location. Documents and Settings is just a pointer for old applications to use. You can do whatever you need to do in c:\users.

 

[RadxBoy]

Oh, yeah... I was distracted by the more recent posts from what I thought was the original problem. I assume I will automatically have access to the files in c:\users. Thanks for clarifying!

 

[James Colbert]

MacGyvr is indeed correct. The only problem is that system restore does not always restore security settings to app data, as is stated here, from which the excerpt is taken:

How do I restore security settings to a known working state?

2. Restore using System Restore:(For Windows client operating systems only)

The built-in System Restore feature automatically creates restore points at regular intervals and when applications are added via supported installer methods. Each restore point contains the necessary information needed to restore the system to the chosen system state. This method can be used to recover the system back to a specific state. As mentioned earlier in the previous method, this may not be helpful to restore security settings on application data and a Complete System backup may be needed for the same.

It is worth trying, however.

Another method is to use Xcacls.exe:

How to use Xcacls.exe to modify NTFS permissions

Unfortunately, this also has been known to fail.

The only 2 definites are:

1. Never use TakeOwnership on any system drive, files or folders or user folders. Never.

2. Restoring an image of the drive (such as one created with Acronis True Image, the Free Macrium Reflect and others). But this requires that an image be created before the problem event.


Unfortuanately, not everyone is aware of the hazards of wrongful use of TakeOwnership. We see many issues in these forums due to improper application of this tool.

James

 

[RadxBoy]

Oh brother... I'll try it and then...

 

[RadxBoy]

Upon second thought, should I "re-install" Windows 7, or whatever is needed? The trouble is, it's an HP TouchSmart 610 that I bought at Best Buy less than two weeks ago. There is no installation disk, or any disk for that matter. Is there any way to restore it to its original state?

 

[James Colbert]

There should be an HP program in the start menu or Control Panel that will create Factory Restore disks, although I'm not sure if that will create Factory configuration or current configuration? Someone will know, or you could ask HP.

 

[seavixen32]

Upon second thought, should I "re-install" Windows 7, or whatever is needed? The trouble is, it's an HP TouchSmart 610 that I bought at Best Buy less than two weeks ago. There is no installation disk, or any disk for that matter. Is there any way to restore it to its original state?

Creating Recovery Disc Set in Windows Vista: HP TouchSmart Dev Zone

The procedure should be the same for Windows 7 as well.

 

[James Colbert]

Good link, Seavixen. RadxBoy, do note this line at the resource Seavixen provides:

If recovery discs were not created before the recovery partition was damaged or erased, obtain new recovery discs. For more information, refer to Obtaining Recovery Discs (Asia, North America, and South America)

Apparently, the Recovery Disk creation proccess creates recovery for your current config, so the security settings will likely be carried into the disk set. Try the link provided to order new factory disks.

Edit: err...that may refer only to the recovery partition, so it may be OK to create them. May want to check with HP...

James

 

[RadxBoy]

I suppose now is the time to ask, is there anyway I can test the computer to see if I actually have a problem before I do any of this?