Hello! I have been searching for several hours now without finding any results to the problem that has been haunting me. I am using Windows Vista Ultimate 32 Bits. Here is the problem:I cannot seem to delete/move/rename/check properties/take ownership of a file that was previously copied from an old system.These are the symptoms:1. If I try to delete the file: I just get a window that reads "Calculating time" and it never finishes the task (even after letting the system hang for more then 60 mins).2. If I right-click on the file and ask to see the properties: Nothing happens (Literally: no window, no message, I simply do not get the properties window).3. If I try to rename the file: as soon as I hit "enter" Explorer hangs and, eventually, I am forced to end the process through the Task Manager. I have tried everything:1. Followed the directions to take ownership of the file (via cmd and through the right-click shortcut added to my system). This did not correct the situation.2. I "elevated" my local admin account and tried again. Upon failure I...3. Disabled UAC and tried one more time.Nothing.The funny thing is: If I boot in Safe Mode, I can do whatever I want to the file (as I should be able to!). Now, here's the sticky part... there are several files included in a folder that have been behaving the same way, I need to keep them, they are important and thus just deleting the file(s) is not an option. This is getting to the point of exasperation.I guess my question is: How come I DO have complete control over my files in Safe Mode? How can I reproduce this level of ownership/security/control in Normal Mode?Any suggestions are valuable at this point.Many Thank-yous,

Hi, Thanks for posting here! I suggest we first use the following steps to take ownership of the files. 1. Please navigate to the target file/folder. 2. Right-click on the file/folder and choose Properties. 3. Click the "Security" tab and see if your current user is listed in the "Group or user names" list. If not, please click the Add button, type the name of your current user in the "Enter the object names to select " box, then click "OK" to add this group. 4. Select the user from the list and then check the "Allow" checkbox next to "Full Control". 5. Click the Advanced button and click the "Owner" tab. Then, press "Edit" button. 6. Select current user from the list and check the "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" checkbox. 7. Click "OK" to save changes and wait for Windows Vista to transfer the ownership of all the objects on the partition. 8. Click OK again to save changes and exit the Properties window. Best regards,

Sean,Thank you for the detailed method for editing the permissions on a file, although I beg you to FULLY read my posting. I cannot show the properties of the file, hence, I cannot folow your directions.Best regards,Hector

Hi Hector, Thanks for your update! Since the properties window is not available in Windows Explorer, I suggest we perform the following steps to troubleshoot the issue. 1. Download ShellExView v1.10 from the following link http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.zip Please Note: The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft. We make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability. 2. Double click the "shexview.zip" file. 3. Extract all the files to C:\ShellExView. (Note: You can use other folder name). 4. Open the "C:\ShellExView" folder. Right click the "shexview.exe" file and click Run as Administrator. It will scan the registry for all the shell extensions. 5. Select all the non-Microsoft extensions in pink by pressing "Ctrl" in the keyboard. 6. Click "Disable Selected Items" on the toolbar and click Yes. 7. Then let's check if we can continue the previous steps and see properties window. Best regards,

Dear Sean,Bad News. I followed your instructions to no avail. I do want to thank you for the ultra-cool utility to manage Shell Extensions! Regardless, I think the problem still lies in the security settings. Somehow, Vista is preventing my User from accessing the file! I am positive of this because, if I reboot in Safe Mode (which we know cancels completely UAC in evey way) I can do anything I want to the file.Is there a website where I can upload my system information, along with the file, etc. To have somebody in MS try to reproduce the problem?I am really baffled, I have done everything I am supposed to do to try to give myself rights and access to the file. Is it possible to prevent the SYSTEM from accessing a file? Kind regards,Hector

Hector, you can send system information and other files to me directly at v-seazhu@microsoft.com . Then, I can help to check the issue. Best regards,

I am having the same issue on a 2008R2 server. A folder that was fine earlier is now hosed. I cannot change ownership. I've tried icacls too to no avail. What happened with this?? was there a resolution??

A client of my company is experiencing similar (if not identical) issue on their SBS 2011. Files were migrated from their old SBS 2003 server to a Buffalo Terastation NAS (which, to my understanding, runs a BusyBox linux distro under the hood) in order to free up disk space. When upgrading to SBS 2011 the files were migrated from the NAS to the new server. Now each file and directory that was migrated contains it's own permissions/ownership (as in not inherited). Subsequently, ownership and permissions cannot seem to be changed systematically using either the GUI (Properties>Security tab) or takeown/icacls commands. An update to this would be much appreciated! Jon Payne, Wilson Price IT

Hello, I see that there has not been a reply from a moderator since April 17 and that others have continued to have this problem - as do I. Is there any documented resolution to this issue? This is very frustrating and wasting space on my hard drive, not to mention creating a security concern. Our machines are running Windows 7 Pro 64bit. ALL of them are having this problem - there are MSIxxx.tmp files that are apparently locked from access. We are unable to take ownership of any of the files. Please advise. Regards, Lon