How to delete stuff from an old hard drive

[Aepervius]

As you probably know windows for its service pack build a lot of random name directory in the root drive : 4dc5df4dd etc...

I am now trying to delete the file/directory from an old hard drive but I keep "access denied". This is naturally a follow up from my psot from yesterday :).

Any idea ?

[MortFurd]

Yep.

Right click on hte folder in explorer. Select "properties" and go to the "security" tab. If you don't have a security tab, then you are using XP Home and must reboot to safe mode.

Once you have the security tab, click on advanced then go to the "Owner" tab. Set your current user account as the owner and set the check mark by "replace owner on subcontainers and objects." Hit OK, then wait while Windows changes the ownership of all files.

You will now be back at the "security" tab of the folder properties. Click "add" and add your user account to the list and grant yourself full access. Click "Apply." Windows should ask you if you want to reset the prmissions on all subcontainers and objects. Click "OK."

Once that completes, you can delete the folder.

[Aepervius]

Isn't there a way to do it with an admin account or something ? I have to reboot in safe mode ?

[MortFurd]

If you have Windows 2000 or XP Professional, then you don't need safe mode.

Microsoft decided that home users didn't need the security tab and hid it except for in safe mode.