Comments on: How to Delete a System File in Windows 7 or Vista

By: Nikhil Bandale

Nikhil Bandale — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:38:17 +0000

Thanks a lot! the (takeown and cacls) method worked for me.

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:02:18 +0000

Someone help me.

First of all, I’m using Windows 7 32bit. I just reformatted it today from a 64bit program. I’ve been searching the web for awhile for results on how to help me with an issue I’ve been having. I recently tried to do a workaround for the TrustedInstaller that was denying me access to remove a Programs (x86) Folder

This is what I did in cmd
“takeown /f C:\”
“cacls C:\ /G username:F”

Now I can’t access/edit/move/download anything.

I don’t have a Restore Point saved. I was wondering if there would be any way to undo this, or grant permission back the way it had been previously. Maybe grant to TustedInstaller, idk?

When I open up My Computer, Local Disk (C:) now no longer shows how much space is on the hard drive

Also, almost every single folder I try to use or move results in this pop-up
“C:\ is not accessible. Access is denied.”

I also can’t use Windows 7 CD to re-install. I get an error message

Please post a reply.

By: Geraintjo

Geraintjo — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:39:45 +0000

Sorry guys I should have said ICACLS
geraintjo

By: Geraintjo

Geraintjo — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:34:50 +0000

Well, I’ve read everything, tried everything but with Iacls I get a message “Invalid parameter ” and it refers to the last entries, andrew/f
At the command prompt, I do not have just the drive letter but have the followingC:\users\andrew. So I just start icalcs “C:\users\andrew\back\program files”/grant andrew/f
my objective is to be able to delete the folder Prgram Files
What am I doing wrong????

By: ThankSoMuch

ThankSoMuch — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:20:05 +0000

Hey, Thanks! I was about to give up until I found your solution. Worked perfect even on Win 7.

By: ihmoo

ihmoo — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:27:54 +0000

YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Mr Pickles

Mr Pickles — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:45:48 +0000

This worked perfectly.. thank you so much, this article rocked. If it weren’t for people like you, the internet wouldn’t be worth fighting for.

By: Flash

Flash — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:21:56 +0000

HELP!! I did this with the c: drive and now my computer doesn’t let me access or download anything! How can I fix this???

By: Jitu Keshwani

Jitu Keshwani — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:50:37 +0000

Hi,
I’ve tried what has been suggested but still not able to shrink the partition
After the defragmentation using perfect disk at the end some meta data/MFT block are there, due to which I think I’m not able to shrink

Please tell what do I do now.

By: Luunatik09

Luunatik09 — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:15:28 +0000

i hav exactly the same issue as iwatson but i cant seem to b able to delete the files in C: which is my earlier vista install place now i m using from F: whr i installed a new copy but i cant delete program files & windows folder from c: even after using these commands pls help