Solved Is batch-updating of File Permissions possible?

[wlepera]

I had a Windows 10 laptop with an external USB hard drive attached. The external drive has a folder with hundreds of jpg images. The laptop failed and is no longer usable. I connected the external drive to a Windows 7 desktop and from there I can see the folder and all the files, but under Windows 7 I'm told I do not have permissions to access any of them. I don't even see the thumbnail images in the folder view.

I have found I can set the permissions such that the files are accessible again by doing the following:

1. Right-click on file, select Properties
2. Click Security tab
3. Click Continue button, get screen that says "Unable to display current owner"
4. Click Other users or groups button
5. In Select User or Group dialog, enter object name "Everyone". Click OK to close and return to Advanced Security Settings box
6. Click OK on Advanced Security Settings Box
7. Click OK to acknowledge having to close and reopen properties
8. Click OK to close properties dialog, then right-click on file again
9. Click Security tab, then Edit
10.Click Add
11.In Select User or Group dialog, enter object name "Everyone". Click OK to close and return to Advanced Security Settings box
12.Click OK on Advanced Security Settings Box
13.Click OK in Properties dialog to dismiss.

*Whew*

I wouldn't mind doing this for a few files, but as I said this folder has hundreds of images in it. If I select more than one file and right-click for properties, I don't see the "Security" tab - it looks like that only shows up when a single file is selected.

Is there any other way to do a batch update of all the file permissions in the folder?

Thanks.

 

[Ztruker]

Try the Take Ownership via Context Menu. It's a registry mod that allows you to right click on a file or folder and select Take Ownership.

See here: Add "Take Ownership" to Context Menu of Files, Folders, and Drives in Windows

 

[wlepera]

Thank you. This worked, and is much easier and faster than the manual way I was doing it. However, it seems to limit me to 15 images at a time. If I select more than 15 files, the "Take Ownership" item doesn't appear on the pop-up menu.

 

[Ztruker]

Try TakeOwn at the folder level rather than the individual file level perhaps?

 

[wlepera]

Yep, that did it. When I was doing this the manual way, changing the permission on the folder did not affect the contents. But Take Ownership done from the folder changed everything within it. Thanks again.

 

[Ztruker]

Glad it worked.