Most users are familiar with the fact that operating systems like Windows 7 and above often display messages that there is no access to the folder. Sometimes it is blocked for system security, sometimes the problem lies in the so-called “super administrator” account or in the TrustedInstaller system. Now it will be considered how to open access to the Windows 7 folders , including individual files and registry keys.
The essence of the problem of lack of access to files, folders and registry keys
Blocking access attempts to perform any actions with files, folders or system registry keys in most cases is associated only with security considerations (so that the user, unknowingly or accidentally, cannot change objects vital to the system).
However, one can often see the appearance of messages that there is no access to the folder, even, it would seem, for the most ordinary objects, not connected in any way with the system. It may well be that such objects simply have an attribute prohibiting their opening or editing. In the simplest case (for example, for executable EXE files), they should be opened on behalf of the administrator.
On the other hand, sometimes you have to use system components in order to be able to control computer processes. What to do in this situation, now let's see.
No access to folder: permission check
First you need to check if the lock is installed. In the standard "Explorer" or any other file manager, right-click on the file to call the context menu and go to the property bar.
There are two attributes below. In this case, we are interested in the first (“Read Only”). If there is a checkmark in front of it, you can view the contents of the file, but you cannot edit or save the changes. But this is the most primitive option.
Cannot access Windows 7 folder : configure security settings
To gain access to all the elements in Windows 7 and above, you will have to tackle security settings.
Access to the Windows folder or a single file can only be done in this way. We click on the selected object with the right mouse button and select the properties menu, where we go to the security tab. At the bottom of the window there is a button “Advanced”, using which, we enter the additional parameters.
Here we are interested in the tab "Owner". At the bottom of the window, click the button for changing settings, place the cursor either on your own account or on the administrator group and click on the “OK” button. If the setting is made not for the file, but for the directory, you will additionally need to uncheck the line for replacing the owner of objects and subcontainers.
In some cases, in the “Explorer” in the view menu on the same name tab, you may need to uncheck the box for using simple shared access, if the object has such an attribute).
Enabling access to registry entries
To get access to editing keys and registry entries, it is not always enough to run the regedit command or the executable EXE file of the same name as administrator. Some subsections may still be uncontrollable, and the system will again display a message stating that the folder is not accessible.
In this case, the necessary subsection is selected in the left part of the registry, after which a right click is made on it and the context menu is called where you need to select the permissions section. We use the "Advanced" button in it, and then repeat the steps described above.
Set permissions for your own account
At this stage, you need to use the same security tab, where the button for changing groups and entries for a specific object is used.
Next, click the add button, enter your "account" and confirm the addition. Now in the lower window in the permissions column on all fields, check the boxes and save the changes. Note that this configuration method is suitable only for single objects (files and directories).
Command line usage
Now let's see how to access the folder using standard command line utilities. These are icacls and takeown commands.
Launch the console as administrator from the Run menu (cmd). Starting a command line with admin rights is required, regardless of which account the user is currently working on. The only exception is access under the administrator account, which is disabled by default.
Next, the takeown / f command “full path to the file” (restore access by reassigning the owner) is written in the console. The path to the file is indicated without quotation marks.
The second command looks like this: icacls “full path to the file” / grant “account name”: f. (again, all without quotes). This utility transfers control rights to the selected object to the specified account.
If for some reason the input of these two commands did not produce a result, you should reboot the system in safe mode (F8 when the system starts), and then repeat the operation.
Conclusion
Here were given the most effective and simplest methods that allow you to access any objects of Windows-systems. Some experts advise using the so-called tweaks of the registry, however, this method is quite time-consuming and is suitable exclusively for users with the necessary knowledge or system administrators. But in general, you should be very careful with the registry, and when you try to edit it - at first, at least make a backup in case of a quick recovery of the system after changing its keys and entries.