Lost access to C: drive and admin features

[kyrios]

Hi,

I removed all permissions of Authenticated Users for my C: drive, but not for admins.

Now when I'm using my account ( an admin account ) I cannot reach my drive, can not change permissions again, and can not restore permissions, and cannot delete files etc.

But I can still run programs in my own account

Even the super-admin account can not do anything. I tried safe mode, but nothing was different.

I can't restore my computer, and none of the features with the "admin shield" could be activated, nothing happens after i click it!

Please help me if you have the solution!

EDIT:
I think error messages might be able to help anyone and everyone to in turn help me so here they are:

When i double click C: drive/delete files/copy and paste files, etc
Location is not available
C:\ is not accessible.
Access is denied

When i press continue in the Security tab in the properties of C: drive
Windows Security
Can't open access control editor. Access is denied.

When i press certain setting-changing items
[the file path]
Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.


Thank you in advance for helping!! Really need it!

 

[chev65]

It sounds like you removed your account access permissions when you messed with those accounts. You might try the take ownership shortcut and see if it can get you back into those drives.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html

Or you could try to restore the Users permissions or group status using the link below.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/103570-user-accounts-add-remove-groups.html?filter

 

[kyrios]

Hello and thanks chev65,

for the first link (shortcut type), i cannot download the file for some reason, i'm not sure if it has anything to do with my permissions.

i had tried the take ownership method before (properties menu type), and i found out that the advanced security is also limited to 'admins' only, and i have lost my permissions, and cannot do it. This was the way i removed my permissions, but now i cannot do that anymore!

thanks chev65, i'll try to use another computer to download that file in a usb drive... i hope that works...

i really need alternative methods to regain access to my C drive! please help me!

Kris

EDIT:
oh, how foolish of me! i forgot to talk about the second link...

the second link requires administrator privileges, and i no longer own them, so i can't even complete the first step of either options... thanks chev65, but these don't work for me... it was a foolish mistake to edit the permissions for my local drive in the first place, but i really hope i can fix it without a fuss (send to factory, computer store, etc)...

Kris

 

[wilywombat]

Have you tried a repair install from your original DVD?

 

[kyrios]

Hi wilywombat,

I do not have a DVD, because it was installed before i got the computer at my home...

the recovery drive is not accessible either... i cannot make a DVD to recover...

Restore is not possible... however i will try later in safe mode.

Thanks, i'll see what i can do with your suggestions hope some of them work...

Kris

 

[kyrios]

chev65,

i tried to download the files on my laptop, then transfer it to my desktop computer [the one with the problem] via USB.

i got the files, but i am not allowed to merge it, let alone taking the ownership.

thanks for the help! But it didn't work... am i really in a hopeless state?!

Please help me!

 

[kyrios]

Dear all,


Just an update. Thanks for the help...

I tried to restore from safe mode, because it is impossible to restore from the normal windows ( i do not have the rights to access system restore). I forgot when i made the change to the C: drive, so i chose the oldest restore point possible, but it was damaged because of a roaming file in another account, so i tried another restore point. my new softwares were removed but the C: drive settings were not!

Thanks for the help and in advance for the solution!

Kris

 

[alfred01]

Hi kyrios, with Windows 7 you don't need DVD. After you press Start in the search box type eRecovery Management and then check the various options.

 

[kyrios]

Hi alfred01,

thanks for the suggestion... but when i try it, there is no result.

i think it is because i can no longer see the results from C drive, so now i don't think there's any other way besides restoring to factory default state... but i cannot backup my files.

any suggestions in :
-backing up files when you cannot copy&paste / use backup function? ><
-reinstalling windows 7 without a DVD?

This is really a fatal mistake!! I hope some of you can help me fix it!

please help me!

Kris

 

[kyrios]

Hi all,

my computer is still in this semi-paralyzed state... if you have any solutions, please help!!

Kris

 

[logicearth]

It would just be easier to reinstall. And leave the permissions as they are. Everything is set the way it is for a reason.

 

[Hopalong X]

He evidently doesn't have a disk to reinstall.

Mike

 

[Bill2]

Make a repair CD. Use Option 2. Download and make disk per instructions.
System Repair Disc - Create

Then use disk to do repair install. You will not loose any more of your files.
Repair Install

Sorry Hoppy, a system repair disk such as the one described in that tut cannot be used to do a repair install. Repair install requires a full fledged win7 install dvd.

 

[Hopalong X]

The tutorial doesn't mention that. Then it is a boot disk to get into Windows. That is all.

 

[Bill2]

You havent filled in your system specs so one doesnt know what brand PC this is. If this is an OEM machine (came with win7 preinstalled) there would be a recovery partition, visible or hidden. Every brand OEM has a Fn key to launch recovery from that partition at boot, E.g. HP has F10. If you tell us what brand your PC is, I'll try and find the hotkey for you.

Another very simple option is to contact the OEM either online or via phone. They will ship the recovery disks for your particular model at a nominal cost.

 

[kyrios]

Reply

OK, i'll reply one by one.

logicearth,

Hi wilywombat,

I do not have a DVD, because it was installed before i got the computer at my home...

the recovery drive is not accessible either... i cannot make a DVD to recover...

Restore is not possible... however i will try later in safe mode.

Thanks, i'll see what i can do with your suggestions hope some of them work...

Kris

and i set the permissions because i had wanted to restrict normal users' access to C: drive, but i mistook 'authenticated users' as 'users' and affected all users, so it was set the way it is because of a mistake. i am one of the admins of the computer because it is in my house... i really hope to find some help on this forum, I really need it.

Hopalong X, I do not have a disk to reinstall. that is correct.

Bill2, i forgot to include my sys specs... i'll do that within 24 hours ... i still have a biology exam tmr x[

but i think mine is a Lenovo OEM computer. i tried various recovery methods from the lenovo recovery 'interface' except the 'reset hard disk to factory installed state' one, and recovery points did not work, to my disappointment. I think there are infinite files that cannot be recovered (C: drive is not accessible... ) and i can only ignore one of them with one recovery point.

I am using an ext hard drive now... but i still can't initiate downloads from google chrome, haven't tried firefox/IE.

from my biology exam, you'd know i'm still a student... so i'll keep bill2's last suggestion as a last resort


But to be honest, how can such a trap/paradox exist in the advanced windows 7... although i know i shouldn't have done it on the C: drive... too harsh, i admit

I wonder if even resetting the hard disk will work... might not be allowed access either. Same goes for recovery disks.

UPDATE:
I also tried using CACLS but i cannot open an elevated cmd, so no access. Not even in safe mode.

Hope someone - anyone - can help me!

Thank you all, for the suggestions!

Kris

 

[Bill2]

Kyrios, the only thing that looks like it'll work for you is in fact that "reset hard disk to factory installed state". This'll wipe any user data, so if you have important stuff on this computer, you need to try recovering it using something like an Ubuntu live cd. Its a freeware, you can download it, burn to dvd, then boot off it and see if it lets you browse to your files.

Lesson learnt is dont fiddle unnecessarily or at least till you know how to bounce back. And chill, we all burnt our fingers that way some time or the other...The other lesson is always keep important data backed up, best on an external hard drive.

 

[logicearth]

and i set the permissions because i had wanted to restrict normal users' access to C: drive, but i mistook 'authenticated users' as 'users' and affected all users, so it was set the way it is because of a mistake. i am one of the admins of the computer because it is in my house... i really hope to find some help on this forum, I really need it.

Don't mess with the permissions at all. Removing Users or Authenticated Users, will foobar the whole system. Both are REQURIED. And Both only have at most read access for any marjor part of the system, without the ability to read, could not even log in. If you want to restict what a user has access to, you need to avoid messing with the WHOLE drive. Just limit the permissions on the data that needs to remain private.

Second, In Windows Vista/7 the account you create is part of the Administrators group. However, until you elevate (UAC prompt for example) that account appears and is restricted to the Users group.

 

[kyrios]

Greetings,

I understand that it is my fault to even touch the permissions of the whole drive...
Thank you for your suggestion, Bill2. I will see what i can do to backup my stuff before i reset.

Logicearth, i know... it is a terrible thing to do... and thank you for the information.

Thank you all who replied...

Thank you for the help, i'll keep you guys updated so this thread can maybe warn others who made this silly mistake also... though i doubt if any exist.

Kris

 

[wilywombat]

What about connecting up an external USB DVD Drive, borrow a Windows 7 DVD from a friend and try a repair install after ensuring you can boot from your USB in BIOS?