Windows 7: constantly being berated with access denied messages
Is there anyway to tone down the access permissions in windows 7? it is driving me crazy. I just installed a 3D engine called panda- something that took me minutes to get running on XP and linux. Unfortunately I can not run the samples via the command line using "python filename". I have taken ownership of the folder, gone through all the security/privacy options but am still getting "python: cannot open file 'filename': [Errno 13]: permission denied. It seems every day I am running into these sorts of problems which I never saw on XP. How can I solve this problem (I am assuming it is a security issue with python so maybe I should direct this question to a python forum too? And how can I have a more usable system that doesn't take all these extra steps to get simple things done inside windows 7?
August 9th, 2009 1:30am

You could turn off or turn down UAC: To turn it off go to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > User Accounts > Change UAC settings and move the slider down. If you move it to the bottom, it will turn it off completely.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
August 9th, 2009 4:24am

You could turn off or turn down UAC: To turn it off go to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > User Accounts > Change UAC settings and move the slider down. If you move it to the bottom, it will turn it off completely.
August 9th, 2009 4:24am

Which folder is it trying to access? Some system components folders cannot be modified even after we take ownership. You may try to set the program to run as administrator. Please right-click on the file, click on Compatibility tab. Select to run this program as administrator. Also you may select to run the program in Windows XP SP3.Arthur Xie - MSFT
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
August 10th, 2009 5:36am

Its just a folder at C:\panda Its a folder I created, its not in a system folder or in a system location but the thing is: on XP, because I was trained in helpdesk and support in XP, I was used being able to do whatever I wanted, as a system administrator. Now suddenly, on a home desktop that has good network security and me as the only user, because of windows 7, as an administrator I am getting "access denied" bullsh*t. Being an administrator should mean that I have the power to do whatever the ____ I want to the operating System without all this hassle. I have UAC off, change compatibilities, take ownership of directories, and still I'm being treated like the Operating System is being much too over protective
August 18th, 2009 7:39am

Welcome to Win 7. I have just run into the same situation and quite frankly it is driving me insane. I set up 'Me' as the only user and expect to be able to open 'Documents and Settings' without all this trouble. I am beginning to think XP........
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
August 25th, 2009 1:32am

It has to do with UAC. With it off I can run older commands such as "sc stop spooler" or "sc stop w32time" but with it on I get access denied and have to use the services manager GUI to do it.
February 1st, 2010 11:07am

I am among the other disenchanted with the problem. Almost since the inception of MSDos, I have bettered my OS when available. Win 7 is an insult to independence. I grow with increasing frustration at the way that it seems Mr. Gates wants us to use the computer in such a proprietary way that it is his choice not ours. I have three computers at home. I have no password on any part of them, if it can be avoided. I have had no problems in relation to that election in over 25 years but I am going to have a physical problem when I ram my fist through the monitor in a rage produced by all the denials and suggestions and intimidating "built ins" with Win 7. In spite of all the pleasant aspects of the OS, it is a ROYAL PITA to have to tolerate being denied the freedom of trying to use simplicity in its use. Jim
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
May 16th, 2010 5:00pm

I tried to edit permissions for the entire C drive, and it let me! It gave me a warning that I was about to change permissions for important system folders, and I told it to go ahead. I was so excited! ...then it told me it couldn't change security options for the three most important folders. Access denied.
July 30th, 2010 7:16pm

I am looking for a solution to this as well! I've tried turning of UAC, I enabled the "hidden" (thanks, MS, you're probably right, I shouldn't even SEE that account) administrator account that every Windows 7 has, I tried to mass change the entire drives ownership. That last part was successful, except, I still get told "You'll meed to provide administrator permission to rename this folder". SERIOUSLY!? I created the folder. I named the folder. WHY CAN'T I RENAME IT WITHOUT BEING ASKED TO CLICK CONTINUE!? Yes, I can click continue. So can someone else, how is that administrator permission? I agree MS headed in the right direction, but then they turned Windows security into a joke! It's like MS's own terror alerts! Yes, I can still get viruses and trojans like any other time, people who want to break your computer WILL, so why bend over backwards to make me feel stupid and out of control of my own paid for software!? Worse than their magical hour glass - the, "No, no... it's OK, you're slow as heck because, well, look at the hourglass... somethings is happening. Something." WHAT!? WHAAAT!? Still can't do ANYTHING, WHY!? What program is running!?
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 25th, 2010 5:37pm

Thank you I own a hair salon and almost lost all my hair color records and spread sheets. I tried and read many things to unlock my old hard drive this is the only thing that helped. So thank thank you thank you.
January 5th, 2011 7:39am

You could try the following steps A " > " indicates Next Start > Control Panel > System & Security > Administrative Tools > Local Security Policy Click Local Policies > User Rights Assignment look for the policy "Take ownership of files and other objects" Double click the policy Click "Add user or Group" Enter your username > Check Names Click "OK" twice Close all windows until you are back at the desktop Navigate to "Run" Start > All Programs > Accesories > Run Type without quotes "gpupdate" It should work now
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
January 7th, 2011 8:49am

Looks like Andy is right. Totally works. Thanks!
January 7th, 2011 12:29pm

You could try the following steps A " > " indicates Next Start > Control Panel > System & Security > Administrative Tools > Local Security Policy Click Local Policies > User Rights Assignment look for the policy "Take ownership of files and other objects" Double click the policy Click "Add user or Group" Enter your username > Check Names Click "OK" twice Close all windows until you are back at the desktop Navigate to "Run" Start > All Programs > Accesories > Run Type without quotes "gpupdate" It should work now This did not work for me, any other work around?
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
February 10th, 2011 9:11am

I had this problem and managed to fix it after some painstaking trial and error. For anyone arriving here with the same problem, here's how I managed to get around it. Click properties on the route folder you're having issue with. Personally, I couldn't open anything within My Documents on my old HD. So right click on folder you're having trouble accessing and editing and select PROPERTIES. Go to the SECURITY tab and click on ADVANCED at the bottom. Go to the OWNER tab and click on EDIT at the bottom of the window. Change the owner to the account you are currently on and be sure to tick the box REPLACE OWNER ON SUBCONTAINERS AND OBJECTS. This should automatically replace ownership for all the folders and files within the folder you initially selected the properties for. This is why it's important to change ownership on the top most folder as otherwise you'll end up having to follow these steps for every folder. Then apply the changes and OK each open window and it should all be sorted. Hope this helped someone.
June 2nd, 2011 9:32am

Excellent information Mike. Much appreciated. This has fixed the issue for me.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
June 3rd, 2011 8:22pm

This was a fast and easy fix for me! Thank you! But why can't Microsoft just provide this to us??? Or leave the Administrator rights to the Administrator as it should be?
June 17th, 2011 5:28pm

Sorry, could not tick the box REPLACE OWNER ON SUBCONTAINERS AND OBJECTS. The tick vanished.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
June 22nd, 2011 6:17am

But! In Vista AND win7 Microsoft writes: In Windows Vista, the “My Documents and Settings“, has been replaced by "Users". Each user account will then have Documents, Pictures, videos etc. Note the "My" designation is no longer used. These junction points exist to provide backwards compatibility for older programs that are unaware of the new folder structure in Windows Vista. A program that is hardcoded to install files in the old Documents and Settings will be silently redirected to the new location.
June 22nd, 2011 6:52am

Many thanks for this. I didi it all and even then I hade to specificically add my username to the permissions for the actual target file. Even thhough I changed the security properties for the C drive and ticked the Apply changes to this folder, subfolders, and files' option the file didn't get changed. It is probably not good to go crazy and give yourself access to everything, but it sure makes for less hair tugging and screaming..! However, in a controlled environment, and when you are comfortable with what you are doing, it sure should be easier. (Unix springs to mind..!). There is a good tutorial to be created from the info in these postings.This article was very helpful and I much appreciate it. Thanks to everyone else also. Derek ..
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
June 29th, 2011 8:01pm

This page did it for me! - Finally, after hours and hours of tries... http://www.finestdaily.com/how-to/windows-how-to/how-to-fix-you-dont-currently-have-permission-to-access-this-folder-or-any-folder-access-in-windows-vistawindows-7.html
August 14th, 2011 11:01am

@ AtomKANO : Thank you so Much man for sharing ! I almost exausted all other possibilities !! Cheers man !!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
August 27th, 2011 2:32am

I was already down to the bottom...... and still Documents and Settings can not be opened.
September 1st, 2011 2:34am

Under Administrative Tools I don't have the Local Security Policy option.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
November 24th, 2011 1:41pm

i have multiple drives after installing Win7 on SSD...this works!!
May 11th, 2012 4:29pm

This topic is archived. No further replies will be accepted.

Other recent topics Other recent topics