Second Drive Has Me Locked Out After Re-installing Win7

[ndmuscutt]

Had Win7 on my system before, but did a fresh re-install due to some glitches. I have two hard drives. The first is for software and the OS. The second is strictly for files like documents, pictures, etc.

The install of Win7 came off without a hitch except for one major problem. When I go to access my D drive, I can see all of the folders, but I cannot access any of the files. How can I get permission to access my files without going through each file one-by-one and changing permissions?

Thanks.

 

[karlsnooks]

1. Fluff out the system specs,
2. Post the disk management display using procedure given.

==========================================
Update your SevenForums System Specs
User CP (3rd item in the top menu bar) |
Your Profile | Edit System Spec (left-hand column)

To gather info, use SIW or Speccy or System Info

Add the word laptop or desktop or netbook to the
“system manufacturer” block, for example,
Toshiba Satellite L305D notebook.

Provide full windows version info, for example:
MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit

Use the “Other Info” block for Optical Reader,
Mouse, touchpad, wifi adapter, speakers, monitor, etc

Scroll down and click on the SAVE CHANGES button.
======================================
======================================

HOW TO POST A SNAPSHOT OF DISK MANAGEMENT DISPLAY
Run disk management:
WIN | type DISKMGMT.MSC | ENTER
WIN is the key with the wavy flag.

Maximize the output of Disk Management:
ALT-Spacebar key combo (this pops up a menu) followed by X key (selects Maximize) |
Drag the field separators (such as between Status and Capacity) to show entire field. This is very important, otherwise, needed info is not visible.

Make a snapshot:
WIN | type SNIPPING | ENTER | New
Drag the cursor around the area you want to snip.
File | Save as | select save location and name | Save

Post the snapshot:
Upload a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums

 

[jumanji]

Take ownership. Check on this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html (Of course a blindshot from me. I will try this out in such a situation. Seems reversible which is comforting.)

 

[sandman]

Change the security for the complete drive by right clicking on drive letter and picking security and see if the current user has full access to the drives contents. Plus posting the system specs would also help.

 

[karlsnooks]

Taking Ownership is not always sufficient and is not always reversible, dependent upon current owner, etc.

Taking Ownership used blindly can cause many problems and, in fact, result in a reinstall of win 7 being necessary.

 

[ndmuscutt]

I downloaded SIW but I have no idea what you mean by adding "laptop" or "desktop" to the "system manufacturer" block or "other info" block. I didn't see those categories anywhere.

I can give you a basic rundown of my system:

Windows 7 64-bit Pro on Intel E6850 desktop. Motherboard Asus P5K-E; Nvidia 9600GT; 4GB DDR2

I did attach a jpg of the Disk Managament display.

 

[karlsnooks]

Re-read the procedure for filling out your system specs.

Your cooperation is appreciated.

 

[ndmuscutt]

Okay, karlsnooks. Filled things out. Thanks.

 

[karlsnooks]

Thanks,

Now the sophisticated way of solving your problem is to determine who is the owner of you 2nd drive, take ownership, give yourself all permissions being sure that you've selected to propogate peremissions form the top all of the way down, then to make Everyone Owner, once again propogarting all off the way down.

But here's what I'd do:
Boot from a System Repair Disc,
Go go a command prompt.
copy everything you want to keep from the ""d" over to the "c" (quotes are there because drive letters might be different when working from the disc).
Format the "d"
exit from the system repair disc command shell and reboot.

Now you will find that D has the permissions you want and you will be able to move things back.

CREATE A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC

START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disc button

====================================
GO TO A COMMAND PROMPT USING A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC

1) Insert System Repair Disc into optical reader.
2) Shutdown computer.
3) Boot up computer from the System Repair Disc
If your computer doesn’t boot from the optical drive, then
Immediately after pushing your Power ON button,
start tapping the F2 key to get to the BIOS to change the boot order

On some computers, Immediately after pushing the Power ON button, start tapping the F12 key and choose CD/DVD to change the boot order only for this time.
4) Wait while a mini-version of Windows is loaded and finally the SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog appears.
5) NEXT | SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog
will search your system for installed versions of Windows.
6) select the Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows radio button |
7) NEXT | Choose Command Prompt

Run desired commands and type EXIT when finished.
Remove the System Repair Disc.
Shutdown computer.
Power on computer.

 

[jumanji]

@ndmuscutt, try this easy way out. http://www.caspianit.co.uk/how-to-take-ownership-of-a-drive-folder-or-file-in-windows-7/ the result of my quick research.

( I shudder at the thought of relocating tons of data to another drive, formatting and transfering the data back, even though I have all the resources for doing that complicated and time consuming task.)

 

[karlsnooks]

I repeat-taking ownership is not always a cure-all.

 

[Corazon]

I thought the problem was he can't read (and for that matter copy) the old files on D: to begin with.

And in this case, taking ownership of the complete drive should be harmless since it's not the running Windows system. It's worth a try before going off in any other direction.

 

[jumanji]

Taking ownership and/or changing permissions looks to be the way out. OP may also have a look at this thread. http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/80075-access-denied-d-after-installing-win7.html

And do keep in mind the link I provided in post #10 above from a user who had tried it.

 

[ndmuscutt]

Karl,

I would do the second option that you recommended, but the items I want to keep are more than the free space that I have on drive C. Therefore, how do you go about taking ownership of items of drive D and then getting permissions for those items as well (folders and subfolders)?

Thanks.

 

[karlsnooks]

You are not going to like mey answer, but under the circumstances and planning for the future, buy a larger external USB drive. I think I saw a 1TB for $100 at Fry's. My largest external usb is 320 GB.

 

[gregrocker]

Try rightclick>take ownership of D first after installing the shortcut as already given here: Take Ownership Shortcut

I don't think it will present a problem and may be a quick solution. If not, rightclick D>Properties>Security and add Everyone as owner with full permissions.