Windows 7 - Need Admin Privillages to Delete File but am Admin

[Reven]

Hi

So as the title says, I'm having an issue where I cannot delete certain files as Windows says I need admin privileges. Issue is, I am an admin (as well as the only account on the PC). It appears this block leaves after a few days as I am able to delete the files later, but then other files get protected.

More specifically, I'm playing Triple A by email with a friend. He emails me his save file, so I download it, play then send it back to him. I've been able to do this for years without issue, but now when I try to download the file (typically overwriting my old one) it wouldn't let me. Deleting the file manually also doesn't work.

As a stop game, I started saving the files in a different location. This worked for about 24 hours, but then the bug followed it to the new folder. Yet I was now able to delete some of the old files.

What can I do to fix this? I doubt it's triple a, given that I have this issue even when the game is closed.

 

[corkyg]

Have you tried taking ownership of the files?

 

[Reven]

No. I tried that now. When I go to the Security Settings tab it says I don't have permission to view or edit. Going to advanced -> owner says its unable to display the current owner. I am not allowed to change the owner to either my account or administrators in general.

 

[Mark R]

The problem may be that the file is still open; it looks like the game has closed, but something has gone wrong and it has stuck open, but hidden.

It could also be something like virus or malware scanners interfering with normal access to a file.

If you reboot the computer in safe mode, can you change the ownership or delete the files?

 

[Bubbaleone]

Is it possible (for whatever reason) your friend may have unknowingly changed the file permissions on his end? For example; if the Everyone group previously had full permission (read, write, execute, modify, change owner, delete, etc.) but now has only read and execute permission, that could be an explanation for why you are no longer able to overwrite the previous file with the downloaded file and unable to view or change permissions. You might contact your friend and ask him what the current permissions for the Everyone group are on his computer (for his save file).

.

 

[gsaldivar]

Have you tried deleting the files in safe mode?

 

[sm625]

Google Nirsoft openfilesviewer. It is kind of self explanatory what it does. If something has your file open that tool will tell you. And you can even force-close it.

Whenever you download a game save you should always name it something else. Then name it back only when you are about to resend it. Otherwise, what happens if you receive a corrupt file? Your previous one is now gone because you overwrote it. When you do this you shouldnt have any problems because your OS sees it as a brand new file and it shouldnt have any handles open.

 

[Ketchup]

I don't know how the files/folders are set up for this game, but with Windows there are two levels of Administrator - there is Administrator user account, and there is the real Administrator.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/507-built-administrator-account-enable-disable.html

I don't know that you need this for your specific issue (I would try Bubbaleone's strategy) but I thought I would throw this in here.

 

[blankslate]

Unlocker might help you.

I had a hard drive from a defunct computer and placed it in a new computer for storage and couldn't delete the windows folders on the old drive until I used unlocker on them.

 

[FalseChristian]

I had the same problem once but I can't for the life of me remember how I overcame it.