How to delete folder (folder access denied)?

[DarkEnergy]

For now and for the future. I'm trying to reinstall Steam but it won't install because there's already a folder called Steam in the Program Files folder. I try to delete that folder and it says "you need permission to perform that action". I am the administrator, I own the computer. How would I go about deleting this folder?

[DarkEnergy]

2 minutes ago, Thread212 said:

Well yep thats life.

 

Try using unlocker.

Or if u just want a simple and guarantee to work use linux ubuntu/any linux.

U can try it without having to install it.

 

A solution on how to gain access to a folder shouldn't be to install a different operating system. It's completely impractical. Also, I've tried linux before, I don't like it. There's got to be a way to gain access without using a separate program. 

[NinJake]

What @Thread212 is saying, is to use Rufus to install the Linux OS onto a USB drive. From there you plug in the drive, restart your computer and boot into the linux (IT DOES NOT OVERWRITE YOUR OS UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY TELL IT TO).

 

Once you're in the Linux Distro (Ubuntu or Mint is easy to use), you navigate to your \Program Files\Steam and delete it.

 

Shut down the machine, unplug the USB and you it will be as if the folder and linux never existed. If you have any questions regarding this tag me in a response and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

[DarkEnergy]

1 minute ago, NinJake said:

What @Thread212 is saying, is to use Rufus to install the Linux OS onto a USB drive. From there you plug in the drive, restart your computer and boot into the linux (IT DOES NOT OVERWRITE YOUR OS UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY TELL IT TO).

 

Once you're in the Linux Distro (Ubuntu or Mint is easy to use), you navigate to your \Program Files\Steam and delete it.

 

Shut down the machine, unplug the USB and you it will be as if the folder and linux never existed. If you have any questions regarding this tag me in a response and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

I guess, if that's the only way. I tried unlocker and even that couldn't do it when running as admin. Kind of stupid, how Windows works. 

[NinJake]

Before you go the Linux route. First try restarting your computer, then make sure Steam isn't set to launch during computer startup. If it is, manually close it out and stop any steam processes, then try to delete the folder. It might not be letting you if it's running in the background.

 

Otherwise the Linux route will work.

[Guest]

@GoodBytes maybe?

[GoodBytes]

First, restart your system, does it work now (let's get the basic away).

 

If not:

You need to change the permission so that you have access. (This is Steam or some other software doing).

Right-click on the folder, select Properties. Go under the Security tab.

 

Now click on Advanced. Now click on "Change" blue link next to "Owner". Click on "Advanced", click on "Find Now", and pick you account, and click on OK, and OK again.

Then check the box "Replace all child..."  check box at the bottom of the window. If you don't see it, click on "Change permission" button, and now it will show.

 

Then click on "Add" > Select Principal > Advanced > Find Now. Then pick your account, then click on OK, and OK again, then check all boxes, except "Only apply these permissions...." and click on OK.

 

Then go to the "Effective Access" tab, click on the blue link "Select a user" > Advanced > Find Now > Pick your account > OK > OK.

 

Now click on OK to set, close everything, and now try.

[DarkEnergy]

On 2/1/2017 at 2:10 PM, GoodBytes said:

First, restart your system, does it work now (let's get the basic away).

 

If not:

You need to change the permission so that you have access. (This is Steam or some other software doing).

Right-click on the folder, select Properties. Go under the Security tab.

 

Now click on Advanced. Now click on "Change" blue link next to "Owner". Click on "Advanced", click on "Find Now", and pick you account, and click on OK, and OK again.

Then check the box "Replace all child..."  check box at the bottom of the window. If you don't see it, click on "Change permission" button, and now it will show.

 

Then click on "Add" > Select Principal > Advanced > Find Now. Then pick your account, then click on OK, and OK again, then check all boxes, except "Only apply these permissions...." and click on OK.

 

Then go to the "Effective Access" tab, click on the blue link "Select a user" > Advanced > Find Now > Pick your account > OK > OK.

 

Now click on OK to set, close everything, and now try.

I still can't get it to work. I did everything you said in your post. The only thing it could possibly be is the account I'm choosing for all of this. When I go under "Find Now" there's 47 entry's, multiple say "Administrator". I tried what you said to do with both an "Administrator" account and my own, It had my name and email address which is connected to this computer with Windows 10 so I'm assuming that's the one I should be using. Still no luck, I tried logging off and back on as well. And yes, I tried restarting. My account in Windows 10 shows "Administrator" under my name. 

[samiscool51]

use icacls in cmd

e.g of use: C:\>icacls "D:\test" /grant USERNAME:(OI)(CI)F /T
According to MS definition:

F = Full Control
CI = Container Inherit - This flag indicates that subordinate containers will inherit this ACE.
OI = Object Inherit - This flag indicates that subordinate files will inherit the ACE.
/T = Apply recursively to existing files and sub-folders. (OI and CI only apply to new files and sub-folders). 

 

[DarkEnergy]

5 minutes ago, samiscool51 said:

use icacls in cmd

e.g of use: C:\>icacls "D:\test" /grant USERNAME:(OI)(CI)F /T
According to MS definition:

F = Full Control
CI = Container Inherit - This flag indicates that subordinate containers will inherit this ACE.
OI = Object Inherit - This flag indicates that subordinate files will inherit the ACE.
/T = Apply recursively to existing files and sub-folders. (OI and CI only apply to new files and sub-folders). 

 

When I replaced "USERNAME" with my email address it seems to have worked. Except I still can't delete the folder which means that the account I'm on that's trying to delete the folder must not be my name/email address? How would I find out which account I'm using? When I go under my info, it shows my name and email address. 

[samiscool51]

3 minutes ago, DarkEnergy said:

When I replaced "USERNAME" with my email address it seems to have worked. Except I still can't delete the folder which means that the account I'm on that's trying to delete the folder must not be my name/email address? How would I find out which account I'm using? When I go under my info, it shows my name and email address. 

it should be your username on your system, not an email, 

e.g unity@microsoft.com should be unity

[DarkEnergy]

1 minute ago, samiscool51 said:

it should be your username on your system, not an email, 

e.g unity@microsoft.com should be unity

I just ran the command "echo %USERNAME%" and it showed a different name. My nick name with my middle initial after it. So using your command, I tried that and it shows it worked. Yet I'm STILL unable to delete the folder.  My only guess that's left is if there's a way to execute a command to delete the Steam folder as if I was the account that can delete it. 

[DarkEnergy]

Ok, so using Google, I was able to run a command prompt as the user that should have access to delete the folder. I ran the command "del Steam" after going to the directory. It seems to have deleted some folders and maybe all of the files? It now shows the Steam folder taking up 0 bytes. The problem is that the Steam folder is still there. 

[GoodBytes]

42 minutes ago, DarkEnergy said:

I still can't get it to work. I did everything you said in your post. The only thing it could possibly be is the account I'm choosing for all of this. When I go under "Find Now" there's 47 entry's, multiple say "Administrator". I tried what you said to do with both an "Administrator" account and my own, It had my name and email address which is connected to this computer with Windows 10 so I'm assuming that's the one I should be using. Still no luck, I tried logging off and back on as well. And yes, I tried restarting. My account in Windows 10 shows "Administrator" under my name. 

47? What did you do to your system? You should have: 1x Administrator, and 1x AdministratorS.

 

[DarkEnergy]

5 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

47? What did you do to your system? You should have: 1x Administrator, and 1x AdministratorS.

 

It's a fresh install of Windows 10 on a new laptop. 

[DarkEnergy]

[GoodBytes]

Ah ok, that is fine. I thought you said, 47x Administrator. Not 47 accounts. Yea, all that you see is fine and expected. It is for special permissions for special tasks.