Vista - Not having the correct permission

I just installed Vista from XP, and i had several important files hidden on
my computer. I didn't unhide them when i transfered them over into a
seperate hard drive, and i then tried copying the folder back into my main
drive, but it won't let me, it won't even let me open the files. It keeps
saying i need administrator permission to do this, so i grant it, and it
keeps telling me that i don't have the permission to do this, what should i
do, these are some important files that i need.

I am just guessing but it may have to do with 'ownership'. If you run
Windows Explorer as Administrator and investigate the security of the
folder. Click Advanced and the Owner tab. You should be able to change
ownership to yourself ('Administrators' if you are one). You should also
ensure that you have full control over the folder, sub-folders and files. If
you have full control and ownership, you should be able to do whatever you
want with the folder.

Mike Bernstein

"Hoso" <Hoso@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A6336624-1A3D-4503-836F-AD70DC5FF0B3@microsoft.com...
>I just installed Vista from XP, and i had several important files hidden on
> my computer. I didn't unhide them when i transfered them over into a
> seperate hard drive, and i then tried copying the folder back into my main
> drive, but it won't let me, it won't even let me open the files. It keeps
> saying i need administrator permission to do this, so i grant it, and it
> keeps telling me that i don't have the permission to do this, what should
> i
> do, these are some important files that i need.

I have the same problem as Hoso. I tried to go into safe mode and logon as
Administrator, but the only login option is my own. There is no Administrator
button. How do I login as Administrator?

"Hoso" wrote:

> I just installed Vista from XP, and i had several important files hidden on
> my computer. I didn't unhide them when i transfered them over into a
> seperate hard drive, and i then tried copying the folder back into my main
> drive, but it won't let me, it won't even let me open the files. It keeps
> saying i need administrator permission to do this, so i grant it, and it
> keeps telling me that i don't have the permission to do this, what should i
> do, these are some important files that i need.

Wejii

If you start in Safe Mode and the built-in administrator account does not
appear, this means that your account IS an administrator. Log onto the
system in normal mode and click Start. Click the account picture at the
top/right of the start menu. This should show your account and show whether
it is a Standard account or an Administrator account.

If you have an administrator account please post back with the exact problem
you are having with copying files.

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User


"wejii" <wejii@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4E650030-0342-47D8-8BED-A800F0957EDF@microsoft.com...
>I have the same problem as Hoso. I tried to go into safe mode and logon as
> Administrator, but the only login option is my own. There is no
> Administrator
> button. How do I login as Administrator?
>
> "Hoso" wrote:
>
>> I just installed Vista from XP, and i had several important files hidden
>> on
>> my computer. I didn't unhide them when i transfered them over into a
>> seperate hard drive, and i then tried copying the folder back into my
>> main
>> drive, but it won't let me, it won't even let me open the files. It
>> keeps
>> saying i need administrator permission to do this, so i grant it, and it
>> keeps telling me that i don't have the permission to do this, what should
>> i
>> do, these are some important files that i need.

I realize I am an Administrator, the computer says I am, but still it won't
let me access some files such as my Quicken.qdf. I can't open my documents
folder among others. It sticks its tongue out at me and says I don't have
proper permissions. I tried to add my account to the Administrators group
using MMC, but was not allowed because this version ( Home Premium) does not
have that capability.

"Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:

> Wejii
>
> If you start in Safe Mode and the built-in administrator account does not
> appear, this means that your account IS an administrator. Log onto the
> system in normal mode and click Start. Click the account picture at the
> top/right of the start menu. This should show your account and show whether
> it is a Standard account or an Administrator account.
>
> If you have an administrator account please post back with the exact problem
> you are having with copying files.
>
> --
>
> Ronnie Vernon
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "wejii" <wejii@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:4E650030-0342-47D8-8BED-A800F0957EDF@microsoft.com...
> >I have the same problem as Hoso. I tried to go into safe mode and logon as
> > Administrator, but the only login option is my own. There is no
> > Administrator
> > button. How do I login as Administrator?
> >
> > "Hoso" wrote:
> >
> >> I just installed Vista from XP, and i had several important files hidden
> >> on
> >> my computer. I didn't unhide them when i transfered them over into a
> >> seperate hard drive, and i then tried copying the folder back into my
> >> main
> >> drive, but it won't let me, it won't even let me open the files. It
> >> keeps
> >> saying i need administrator permission to do this, so i grant it, and it
> >> keeps telling me that i don't have the permission to do this, what should
> >> i
> >> do, these are some important files that i need.
>

Wejii

Adding your account to the administrators group would not help, because it
is already a member of that group.

You need to check with the Quicken people and inquire about Vista compatible
updates for your version of Quicken. If this program was compatible with
Vista, it would be asking for administrator privileges.

If you are trying to open the "My Documents" folder and failing, it's
because this is not a folder, it's just a Junction which is used to help
legacy programs find the new location for "My Documents" in Vista.

The new location is C:\Users\username\Documents.

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User


"wejii" <wejii@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:ADD520C4-C55C-4976-8B66-1031D040E617@microsoft.com...
>I realize I am an Administrator, the computer says I am, but still it won't
> let me access some files such as my Quicken.qdf. I can't open my documents
> folder among others. It sticks its tongue out at me and says I don't have
> proper permissions. I tried to add my account to the Administrators group
> using MMC, but was not allowed because this version ( Home Premium) does
> not
> have that capability.
>
> "Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:
>
>> Wejii
>>
>> If you start in Safe Mode and the built-in administrator account does not
>> appear, this means that your account IS an administrator. Log onto the
>> system in normal mode and click Start. Click the account picture at the
>> top/right of the start menu. This should show your account and show
>> whether
>> it is a Standard account or an Administrator account.
>>
>> If you have an administrator account please post back with the exact
>> problem
>> you are having with copying files.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Ronnie Vernon
>> Microsoft MVP
>> Windows Shell/User
>>
>>
>> "wejii" <wejii@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:4E650030-0342-47D8-8BED-A800F0957EDF@microsoft.com...
>> >I have the same problem as Hoso. I tried to go into safe mode and logon
>> >as
>> > Administrator, but the only login option is my own. There is no
>> > Administrator
>> > button. How do I login as Administrator?
>> >
>> > "Hoso" wrote:
>> >
>> >> I just installed Vista from XP, and i had several important files
>> >> hidden
>> >> on
>> >> my computer. I didn't unhide them when i transfered them over into a
>> >> seperate hard drive, and i then tried copying the folder back into my
>> >> main
>> >> drive, but it won't let me, it won't even let me open the files. It
>> >> keeps
>> >> saying i need administrator permission to do this, so i grant it, and
>> >> it
>> >> keeps telling me that i don't have the permission to do this, what
>> >> should
>> >> i
>> >> do, these are some important files that i need.
>>

I also get Access Denied when I try to open the Documents and Settings
folder. It says it is not accessible.

"Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:

> Wejii
>
> Adding your account to the administrators group would not help, because it
> is already a member of that group.
>
> You need to check with the Quicken people and inquire about Vista compatible
> updates for your version of Quicken. If this program was compatible with
> Vista, it would be asking for administrator privileges.
>
> If you are trying to open the "My Documents" folder and failing, it's
> because this is not a folder, it's just a Junction which is used to help
> legacy programs find the new location for "My Documents" in Vista.
>
> The new location is C:\Users\username\Documents.
>
> --
>
> Ronnie Vernon
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "wejii" <wejii@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:ADD520C4-C55C-4976-8B66-1031D040E617@microsoft.com...
> >I realize I am an Administrator, the computer says I am, but still it won't
> > let me access some files such as my Quicken.qdf. I can't open my documents
> > folder among others. It sticks its tongue out at me and says I don't have
> > proper permissions. I tried to add my account to the Administrators group
> > using MMC, but was not allowed because this version ( Home Premium) does
> > not
> > have that capability.
> >
> > "Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:
> >
> >> Wejii
> >>
> >> If you start in Safe Mode and the built-in administrator account does not
> >> appear, this means that your account IS an administrator. Log onto the
> >> system in normal mode and click Start. Click the account picture at the
> >> top/right of the start menu. This should show your account and show
> >> whether
> >> it is a Standard account or an Administrator account.
> >>
> >> If you have an administrator account please post back with the exact
> >> problem
> >> you are having with copying files.
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >> Ronnie Vernon
> >> Microsoft MVP
> >> Windows Shell/User
> >>
> >>
> >> "wejii" <wejii@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:4E650030-0342-47D8-8BED-A800F0957EDF@microsoft.com...
> >> >I have the same problem as Hoso. I tried to go into safe mode and logon
> >> >as
> >> > Administrator, but the only login option is my own. There is no
> >> > Administrator
> >> > button. How do I login as Administrator?
> >> >
> >> > "Hoso" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> I just installed Vista from XP, and i had several important files
> >> >> hidden
> >> >> on
> >> >> my computer. I didn't unhide them when i transfered them over into a
> >> >> seperate hard drive, and i then tried copying the folder back into my
> >> >> main
> >> >> drive, but it won't let me, it won't even let me open the files. It
> >> >> keeps
> >> >> saying i need administrator permission to do this, so i grant it, and
> >> >> it
> >> >> keeps telling me that i don't have the permission to do this, what
> >> >> should
> >> >> i
> >> >> do, these are some important files that i need.
> >>
>

Also, I am able to copy my qdf file from a backup to the desktop and use it
that way, so Quicken does work. My original file is located in Documents and
Settings.

"Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:

> Wejii
>
> Adding your account to the administrators group would not help, because it
> is already a member of that group.
>
> You need to check with the Quicken people and inquire about Vista compatible
> updates for your version of Quicken. If this program was compatible with
> Vista, it would be asking for administrator privileges.
>
> If you are trying to open the "My Documents" folder and failing, it's
> because this is not a folder, it's just a Junction which is used to help
> legacy programs find the new location for "My Documents" in Vista.
>
> The new location is C:\Users\username\Documents.
>
> --
>
> Ronnie Vernon
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "wejii" <wejii@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:ADD520C4-C55C-4976-8B66-1031D040E617@microsoft.com...
> >I realize I am an Administrator, the computer says I am, but still it won't
> > let me access some files such as my Quicken.qdf. I can't open my documents
> > folder among others. It sticks its tongue out at me and says I don't have
> > proper permissions. I tried to add my account to the Administrators group
> > using MMC, but was not allowed because this version ( Home Premium) does
> > not
> > have that capability.
> >
> > "Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:
> >
> >> Wejii
> >>
> >> If you start in Safe Mode and the built-in administrator account does not
> >> appear, this means that your account IS an administrator. Log onto the
> >> system in normal mode and click Start. Click the account picture at the
> >> top/right of the start menu. This should show your account and show
> >> whether
> >> it is a Standard account or an Administrator account.
> >>
> >> If you have an administrator account please post back with the exact
> >> problem
> >> you are having with copying files.
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >> Ronnie Vernon
> >> Microsoft MVP
> >> Windows Shell/User
> >>
> >>
> >> "wejii" <wejii@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:4E650030-0342-47D8-8BED-A800F0957EDF@microsoft.com...
> >> >I have the same problem as Hoso. I tried to go into safe mode and logon
> >> >as
> >> > Administrator, but the only login option is my own. There is no
> >> > Administrator
> >> > button. How do I login as Administrator?
> >> >
> >> > "Hoso" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> I just installed Vista from XP, and i had several important files
> >> >> hidden
> >> >> on
> >> >> my computer. I didn't unhide them when i transfered them over into a
> >> >> seperate hard drive, and i then tried copying the folder back into my
> >> >> main
> >> >> drive, but it won't let me, it won't even let me open the files. It
> >> >> keeps
> >> >> saying i need administrator permission to do this, so i grant it, and
> >> >> it
> >> >> keeps telling me that i don't have the permission to do this, what
> >> >> should
> >> >> i
> >> >> do, these are some important files that i need.
> >>
>

Somthing just clicked inside my head this morning. I went to each folder I
was having trouble with, took ownership, and now it works. Thanks for your
help.

"Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:

> Wejii
>
> Adding your account to the administrators group would not help, because it
> is already a member of that group.
>
> You need to check with the Quicken people and inquire about Vista compatible
> updates for your version of Quicken. If this program was compatible with
> Vista, it would be asking for administrator privileges.
>
> If you are trying to open the "My Documents" folder and failing, it's
> because this is not a folder, it's just a Junction which is used to help
> legacy programs find the new location for "My Documents" in Vista.
>
> The new location is C:\Users\username\Documents.
>
> --
>
> Ronnie Vernon
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "wejii" <wejii@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:ADD520C4-C55C-4976-8B66-1031D040E617@microsoft.com...
> >I realize I am an Administrator, the computer says I am, but still it won't
> > let me access some files such as my Quicken.qdf. I can't open my documents
> > folder among others. It sticks its tongue out at me and says I don't have
> > proper permissions. I tried to add my account to the Administrators group
> > using MMC, but was not allowed because this version ( Home Premium) does
> > not
> > have that capability.
> >
> > "Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:
> >
> >> Wejii
> >>
> >> If you start in Safe Mode and the built-in administrator account does not
> >> appear, this means that your account IS an administrator. Log onto the
> >> system in normal mode and click Start. Click the account picture at the
> >> top/right of the start menu. This should show your account and show
> >> whether
> >> it is a Standard account or an Administrator account.
> >>
> >> If you have an administrator account please post back with the exact
> >> problem
> >> you are having with copying files.
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >> Ronnie Vernon
> >> Microsoft MVP
> >> Windows Shell/User
> >>
> >>
> >> "wejii" <wejii@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:4E650030-0342-47D8-8BED-A800F0957EDF@microsoft.com...
> >> >I have the same problem as Hoso. I tried to go into safe mode and logon
> >> >as
> >> > Administrator, but the only login option is my own. There is no
> >> > Administrator
> >> > button. How do I login as Administrator?
> >> >
> >> > "Hoso" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> I just installed Vista from XP, and i had several important files
> >> >> hidden
> >> >> on
> >> >> my computer. I didn't unhide them when i transfered them over into a
> >> >> seperate hard drive, and i then tried copying the folder back into my
> >> >> main
> >> >> drive, but it won't let me, it won't even let me open the files. It
> >> >> keeps
> >> >> saying i need administrator permission to do this, so i grant it, and
> >> >> it
> >> >> keeps telling me that i don't have the permission to do this, what
> >> >> should
> >> >> i
> >> >> do, these are some important files that i need.
> >>
>

wejii wrote:
> I also get Access Denied when I try to open the Documents and Settings
> folder. It says it is not accessible.

The "Documents and Settings" folder is another junction, like Ronnie
described for the "My Documents" folder. These folders don't really
exist as such, which is why even an admin can't access them, but they
redirect legacy programs which try accessing them to the new locations.
The "access denied" message when you try opening a junction is rather
confusing though - it might be nicer if it either said "This is a
junction, please go to ..." or just took you there anyway. Personally I
don't see why they can't behave in a similar way to links, but I'm sure
there's a reason. You should only be able to see junctions if you have
set Explorer to show "protected operating system files".

If you open a command prompt, and type "dir /al c:\" you see that
"C:\Documents and Settings" is a juntion to "C:\Users\" - that is where
you should be looking. Likewise, if you type "dire /al
C:\Users\<YourUserName>\" you see a load more of these juntions.

You should be able to open C:\Users\YourUserName\Documents, as Ronnie
described - note that it's not under C:\Documents and Settings\! The
icon on your desktop should take you straight to the right place.


>
> "Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:
>
>> Wejii
>>
>> Adding your account to the administrators group would not help, because it
>> is already a member of that group.
>>
>> You need to check with the Quicken people and inquire about Vista compatible
>> updates for your version of Quicken. If this program was compatible with
>> Vista, it would be asking for administrator privileges.
>>
>> If you are trying to open the "My Documents" folder and failing, it's
>> because this is not a folder, it's just a Junction which is used to help
>> legacy programs find the new location for "My Documents" in Vista.
>>
>> The new location is C:\Users\username\Documents.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Ronnie Vernon
>> Microsoft MVP
>> Windows Shell/User
>>
>>
>> "wejii" <wejii@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:ADD520C4-C55C-4976-8B66-1031D040E617@microsoft.com...
>>> I realize I am an Administrator, the computer says I am, but still it won't
>>> let me access some files such as my Quicken.qdf. I can't open my documents
>>> folder among others. It sticks its tongue out at me and says I don't have
>>> proper permissions. I tried to add my account to the Administrators group
>>> using MMC, but was not allowed because this version ( Home Premium) does
>>> not
>>> have that capability.
>>>
>>> "Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:
>>>
>>>> Wejii
>>>>
>>>> If you start in Safe Mode and the built-in administrator account does not
>>>> appear, this means that your account IS an administrator. Log onto the
>>>> system in normal mode and click Start. Click the account picture at the
>>>> top/right of the start menu. This should show your account and show
>>>> whether
>>>> it is a Standard account or an Administrator account.
>>>>
>>>> If you have an administrator account please post back with the exact
>>>> problem
>>>> you are having with copying files.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> Ronnie Vernon
>>>> Microsoft MVP
>>>> Windows Shell/User
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "wejii" <wejii@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:4E650030-0342-47D8-8BED-A800F0957EDF@microsoft.com...
>>>>> I have the same problem as Hoso. I tried to go into safe mode and logon
>>>>> as
>>>>> Administrator, but the only login option is my own. There is no
>>>>> Administrator
>>>>> button. How do I login as Administrator?
>>>>>
>>>>> "Hoso" wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I just installed Vista from XP, and i had several important files
>>>>>> hidden
>>>>>> on
>>>>>> my computer. I didn't unhide them when i transfered them over into a
>>>>>> seperate hard drive, and i then tried copying the folder back into my
>>>>>> main
>>>>>> drive, but it won't let me, it won't even let me open the files. It
>>>>>> keeps
>>>>>> saying i need administrator permission to do this, so i grant it, and
>>>>>> it
>>>>>> keeps telling me that i don't have the permission to do this, what
>>>>>> should
>>>>>> i
>>>>>> do, these are some important files that i need.