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There's a folder on my desktop called like 'example' and when I try to delete it it says "You require permission from the computer's admistrator to make changes to this folder" when checking the properties; the Current owner says "Unable to display current owner."

I have tried many solutions found online, including enabling & signing into the adminstrator account, but haven't been able to fix it. My situation is extremely similar to this.

I can't even open the folder. I am running Windows 7 x64 Home Premium. I can't do anything to the folder because I need permission from my 'computer administrator' It's extremely weird, and I can't fix it. Thanks in advance!

UPDATE: Yes, I'm adminsitrator on my computer.

Oliver Salzburg
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MatthewSot
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5 Answers5

27

Reset the properties of the folder.

Start menu → All Programs → Accessories → Right click on Command Prompt → Run As Administrator.

The type the following

cd\path\to\location\of\the\folder
takeown /r /d y /f example
icacls example /reset /t /c /q
Sathyajith Bhat
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14

Try running Unlocker on the folder.

Dour High Arch
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Unlocker has helped me delete almost every stubborn file/folder I've come across. Perhaps you should give it a try.

CGA
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1

How about booting from some Linux Live CD and then deleting the folder from Linux? You can also use Volkov Commander, it should delete the folder...

http://vvv.kiev.ua/download/

Einsteins Grandson
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I ran into this issue but in my situation it was not fixed by changing permissions. I tried what Sathya suggested using the administrator account, but I kept getting "Access denied" messages.

Then I found out that I had an open Cygwin terminal on that specific folder. As soon as I 'cd' out of that folder I was able to delete the folder in question without problem.

For some reason, the message I was getting when trying to delete the folder was not "Another application is accessing the folder", but a misguiding "You require permission from the computer's administrator to make changes to this folder".

cvacca
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