Deleting files.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

For some reason I cannot delete certain files... They are just regular
dowloaded music files which are incomplete.
Whenever I try to delete them, I have to have an admin permission. I give my
permission and then it comes up that windows could not go ahead with the
task. I don't know what to do cause I really want to delete these files.
They're just taking up space on my computer.
 
Hi,

Where are they located? If the temp files are stored in the program files
directory, then this would be normal as it requires elevated privileges to
alter or delete files here. Many music download programs store the temporary
files within their own program subfolders.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
To elevate your privileges to the files right click on the file , go to
properties , make sure read only is unchecked, click the security tab,
click user name, under allow click full control, click apply, a box may
come up asking if you want to change permission for sub folders click yes,
click ok. you should now be able to delete the files.
 
Hi,

That's altering permissions, something you should not do as then malware can
take advantage of it and infect a system. The whole object of Vista's
security model is that the user does not have those permissions unless
specifically invoked. If you alter them to allow a user full access all the
time, then malware can install itself without the user's knowledge.

To properly elevate, open Windows Explorer or a Command prompt by right
clicking the file or shortcut and using 'run as administrator'. This
elevates only as long as the application is open and permissions are not
altered.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Rick I understand but I was talking single files that she wants to delete,
once deleted the permission is gone, also she is talking about a media file
which as far as I know there is no right click context to run as
administrator. Not an expert but I could be wrong I simply posted what had
worked for me in the same situation.
 
Hi,

Well, the problem with what you proposed is that once the file is removed,
permissions are not reverted to what they should be. Instead, they remain
changed, and the system remains vulnerable.
also she is talking about a media file which as far as I know there is no
right click context to run as administrator.
Click to expand...

But that's not where you want it anyways. You want that option on the tool
being used to manipulate the files, not on the files themselves.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Hi okay I am confused. 1. How can permissions remain for a file that no
longer exists. 2
2 you told her to right click the file and click run as administrator so I
don't understand this


"But that's not where you want it anyways. You want that option on the tool
being used to manipulate the files, not on the files themselves"
if I right click a media file there is no option to run as administrator. so
how can I elevate privileges to delete that file?
 
Hi,

1) Permissions are not being changed on the file, but rather on the folder
or directory tree housing the file. This affects more than just the one
single file.

2) I told her to right click the tool being used, not the file being
deleted, meaning cmd.exe or explorer.exe and run them elevated.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Thank you so much for clearing that up for me! I had no idea that changing
the permissions on a file changed the parent folder. Seems silly for it to
ask about sub folders then.
 
Back
Top