Access denied as Administrator

Al · Nov 13, 2007

New to Vista (Ultimate). Why, when I'm logged in as Administrator, are there

folders on the disk that produce an "Access denied" error when I try to

browse them? I thought the purpose of the Administrator account was to

provide full and complete access to the computer including any folder/file on

the disk regardless of creator/owner status. This is new (and very annoying)

behavior since XP Pro. What settings need to be tweaked?

TIA.

Jimmy Brush · Nov 13, 2007

Hello,

You are most likely talking about the Vista application compatability

"junctions" - they look like shortcuts to folders, with a shortcut arrow and

a dimmed/ghosted folder icon. For example, "My Documents", "My Pictures",

"Documents and Settings".

These are not really folders, but pointers to other locations on your

computer that some apps need to use under certain scenarios. For example,

Documents and Settings points to the Users folder.

You can't browse into these junctions. The reasoning isn't to lock you out,

but to keep applications from thinking these are real folders and getting

confused.

--

- JB

Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

"Al" <Al@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:BE3968CF-CAC2-4BB5-8094-620EEB5EEEA3@microsoft.com...

> New to Vista (Ultimate). Why, when I'm logged in as Administrator, are

> there

> folders on the disk that produce an "Access denied" error when I try to

> browse them? I thought the purpose of the Administrator account was to

> provide full and complete access to the computer including any folder/file

> on

> the disk regardless of creator/owner status. This is new (and very

> annoying)

> behavior since XP Pro. What settings need to be tweaked?

>

> TIA.

Scott Hauge · Nov 13, 2007

I THINK my friend that posted this original question was SPEAKING of SYSTEM

files and folders, e.g., ACCESS DENIED when trying to stop INDEXING, trying

to defragment or even SCAN for VIRUSES (!) in system folders, etc. WHAT is

the POINT of being an administrator if you cannot take OWNERSHIP of QUITE A

BIT of territory? I don't want or need the old "it's to protect files and

you, etc., response", those of us that KNOW what we are doing want to be able

to access EVERY FILE ON OUR PCs! This is, as I have said before, like a BETA

TEST....I'm constantly searching the Internet for "tweaks" and solutions that

Microsoft SHOULD have already addressed. Thanks for another bloated OS that

is pretty and all, but this is it for Windows.

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:



> Hello,

>

> You are most likely talking about the Vista application compatability

> "junctions" - they look like shortcuts to folders, with a shortcut arrow and

> a dimmed/ghosted folder icon. For example, "My Documents", "My Pictures",

> "Documents and Settings".

>

> These are not really folders, but pointers to other locations on your

> computer that some apps need to use under certain scenarios. For example,

> Documents and Settings points to the Users folder.

>

> You can't browse into these junctions. The reasoning isn't to lock you out,

> but to keep applications from thinking these are real folders and getting

> confused.

>

> --

> - JB

> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

>

> "Al" <Al@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:BE3968CF-CAC2-4BB5-8094-620EEB5EEEA3@microsoft.com...

> > New to Vista (Ultimate). Why, when I'm logged in as Administrator, are

> > there

> > folders on the disk that produce an "Access denied" error when I try to

> > browse them? I thought the purpose of the Administrator account was to

> > provide full and complete access to the computer including any folder/file

> > on

> > the disk regardless of creator/owner status. This is new (and very

> > annoying)

> > behavior since XP Pro. What settings need to be tweaked?

> >

> > TIA. 

>

Jimmy Brush · Nov 13, 2007

Hello,

There is nothing stopping you from doing those things.

- JB

Scott Hauge · Nov 14, 2007

Then please tell me WHY I get "access denied" messages almost CONSTANTLY when

trying to scan for viruses and spyware and why I cannot access some files and

folders when defragging? Why does SYSTEM RESTORE not allow me to create

restore points any longer? Why did my GROUP POLICY change somehow, limiting

my access to things I did before, and still should be able to do? Your

answer is of no help whatsoever; please TELL ME how I can do these things

from where you are....I am not able to do them HERE. I am just about ready

to yank Vista from this machine and revert to XP Pro..or better yet, perhaps

now's the time to go back to Mac. Offer some ASSISTANCE, and not a trite

"you can do those things"....why am I limited by YOUR OS?? As a MVP, you

MUST have a better answer than what you just gave me.....

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:



> Hello,

>

> There is nothing stopping you from doing those things.

>

> - JB

Scott Hauge · Nov 14, 2007

No, there IS something preventing me from doing these things. YOUR role is

to tell me WHY I CANNOT do these things.

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:



> Hello,

>

> There is nothing stopping you from doing those things.

>

> - JB

Dave T. · Nov 14, 2007

Scott Hauge wrote:

> No, there IS something preventing me from doing these things. YOUR role is

> to tell me WHY I CANNOT do these things.

>

> "Jimmy Brush" wrote:

> 

>> Hello,

>>

>> There is nothing stopping you from doing those things.

>>

>> - JB

Hello Scott,

None of my business, but someone needs to inform you that the MVP's that

you meet here are NOT Microsoft employees. They VOLUNTEER they're time

and expertise to try to help people. When someone gets in they're face

like they're not doing they're job, well, let me just say that if it

were me I'd hang up.

--

Dave T.

I've learned that whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.

Scott Hauge · Nov 14, 2007

Thanks for the tip. I was aware of that fact. It's a kind of arrogance I am

used to dealing with both Microsoft and some of the "experts"...you say there

is a problem, they tell you "there is no problem"...no help WHATsoever. This

guy really is "arrogance on parade"....at least his "helpfulness rating" is

going down with each reply. It makes you think that if people like HIM were

helping to develop Vista, then you can understand why it's so messed up. I'm

outta here.

"Dave T." wrote:



> Scott Hauge wrote:

> > No, there IS something preventing me from doing these things. YOUR role is

> > to tell me WHY I CANNOT do these things.

> >

> > "Jimmy Brush" wrote:

> > 

> >> Hello,

> >>

> >> There is nothing stopping you from doing those things.

> >>

> >> - JB

>

> Hello Scott,

>

> None of my business, but someone needs to inform you that the MVP's that

> you meet here are NOT Microsoft employees. They VOLUNTEER they're time

> and expertise to try to help people. When someone gets in they're face

> like they're not doing they're job, well, let me just say that if it

> were me I'd hang up.

>

> --

> Dave T.

>

> I've learned that whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.

>

Jimmy Brush · Nov 14, 2007

<snips>

> Then please tell me WHY I get "access denied" messages almost CONSTANTLY

> when

> trying to scan for viruses and spyware and why I cannot access some files

> and

> folders when defragging?

Sounds like a problem with your virus scanner/defrag utility. Are you sure

it is vista compatible? Are you using the built-in vista defragger? This may

be unrelated to any other issues you may be having, as any vista-compatible

virus scanner would not be running under your user account.



> Why does SYSTEM RESTORE not allow me to create

> restore points any longer?

Based on the information you provided, I don't know.



> Why did my GROUP POLICY change somehow, limiting

> my access to things I did before, and still should be able to do?

What makes you think group policy settings were changed? What did you do

before that you can't do now, ignoring the virus/defrag issues?



> Your

> answer is of no help whatsoever;

Based on the information you provided, that was the best answer. Everything

you mentioned as not being able to do is doable in Vista. As you say, I can

do those things HERE. On Vista. So vista in general is not the problem.

Perhaps if you clarify your issues with some details other than "why can't i

do stuff", someone would be able to provide you a better answer.

<snip>

--

- JB

Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Al · Nov 15, 2007

Thanks, Jimmy, I had already discovered some information regarding this,

however, I'm still curious as to why I don't get full access to the \USERS

folder, for example. If this is the location that \Documents and Settings now

points to, and XP gave unfettered access to these folders, why do I still

have trouble viewing files in some of the \USERS subfolders? Where can I find

complete documentation of this major change in OS security behavior. The

Vista Help and Support is woefully lacking in providing Admin-type

information about this sort of stuff and having to Google (excuse me, Live

Search??) for information is pretty silly.

Al

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:



> Hello,

>

> You are most likely talking about the Vista application compatability

> "junctions" - they look like shortcuts to folders, with a shortcut arrow and

> a dimmed/ghosted folder icon. For example, "My Documents", "My Pictures",

> "Documents and Settings".

>

> These are not really folders, but pointers to other locations on your

> computer that some apps need to use under certain scenarios. For example,

> Documents and Settings points to the Users folder.

>

> You can't browse into these junctions. The reasoning isn't to lock you out,

> but to keep applications from thinking these are real folders and getting

> confused.

>

> --

> - JB

> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

>

> "Al" <Al@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:BE3968CF-CAC2-4BB5-8094-620EEB5EEEA3@microsoft.com...

> > New to Vista (Ultimate). Why, when I'm logged in as Administrator, are

> > there

> > folders on the disk that produce an "Access denied" error when I try to

> > browse them? I thought the purpose of the Administrator account was to

> > provide full and complete access to the computer including any folder/file

> > on

> > the disk regardless of creator/owner status. This is new (and very

> > annoying)

> > behavior since XP Pro. What settings need to be tweaked?

> >

> > TIA. 

>

Jimmy Brush · Nov 17, 2007

Hello,

There are junctions that reside in the users folder.

For example, "all users" and "default user" are not really folders and thus

do not contain any files.

Ghosted folder + shortcut arrow + "access denied" = junction.

All users is now: c:\programdata

default user is now: c:\users\default

If you are handy with a command prompt, issuing the command 'dir /al' will

show you a list of the junctions in the current directory, and where they

point to in brackets.

For what it's worth, I disagree with this behavior myself, and tried to get

Microsoft to provide a better error message or an "automatic redirect" to

the folder that the junction points to durring the beta.

If you are having trouble with files or folders that are not junctions,

please post the specific location, and I will do my best to assist you.

--

- JB

Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

"Al" <Al@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:59577B48-A09B-4747-81DD-CEB8D1A55E41@microsoft.com...

> Thanks, Jimmy, I had already discovered some information regarding this,

> however, I'm still curious as to why I don't get full access to the USERS

> folder, for example. If this is the location that Documents and Settings

> now

> points to, and XP gave unfettered access to these folders, why do I still

> have trouble viewing files in some of the USERS subfolders? Where can I

> find

> complete documentation of this major change in OS security behavior. The

> Vista Help and Support is woefully lacking in providing Admin-type

> information about this sort of stuff and having to Google (excuse me, Live

> Search??) for information is pretty silly.

>

> Al

>

> "Jimmy Brush" wrote:

>

>> Hello,

>>

>> You are most likely talking about the Vista application compatability

>> "junctions" - they look like shortcuts to folders, with a shortcut arrow

>> and

>> a dimmed/ghosted folder icon. For example, "My Documents", "My Pictures",

>> "Documents and Settings".

>>

>> These are not really folders, but pointers to other locations on your

>> computer that some apps need to use under certain scenarios. For example,

>> Documents and Settings points to the Users folder.

>>

>> You can't browse into these junctions. The reasoning isn't to lock you

>> out,

>> but to keep applications from thinking these are real folders and getting

>> confused.

>>

>> --

>> - JB

>> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

>>

>> "Al" <Al@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:BE3968CF-CAC2-4BB5-8094-620EEB5EEEA3@microsoft.com...

>> > New to Vista (Ultimate). Why, when I'm logged in as Administrator, are

>> > there

>> > folders on the disk that produce an "Access denied" error when I try to

>> > browse them? I thought the purpose of the Administrator account was to

>> > provide full and complete access to the computer including any

>> > folder/file

>> > on

>> > the disk regardless of creator/owner status. This is new (and very

>> > annoying)

>> > behavior since XP Pro. What settings need to be tweaked?

>> >

>> > TIA.

>>

Al · Nov 19, 2007

Thanks again, Jimmy,

When I have some spare time, I'll check out the ones I was thinking of and

see if they are actually more junctions. In the meantime, I'll ask one more

question. If you're logged in as a "standard" user and you need admin access

to other users' (including the admin) folders and files, how do you start

Explorer as admin so that those folders become available without having to

"switch users"?

TIA,

Al

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:



> Hello,

>

> There are junctions that reside in the users folder.

>

> For example, "all users" and "default user" are not really folders and thus

> do not contain any files.

>

> Ghosted folder + shortcut arrow + "access denied" = junction.

>

> All users is now: c

rogramdata

> default user is now: c:usersdefault

>

> If you are handy with a command prompt, issuing the command 'dir /al' will

> show you a list of the junctions in the current directory, and where they

> point to in brackets.

>

> For what it's worth, I disagree with this behavior myself, and tried to get

> Microsoft to provide a better error message or an "automatic redirect" to

> the folder that the junction points to durring the beta.

>

> If you are having trouble with files or folders that are not junctions,

> please post the specific location, and I will do my best to assist you.

>

> --

> - JB

> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

>

> "Al" <Al@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:59577B48-A09B-4747-81DD-CEB8D1A55E41@microsoft.com...

> > Thanks, Jimmy, I had already discovered some information regarding this,

> > however, I'm still curious as to why I don't get full access to the USERS

> > folder, for example. If this is the location that Documents and Settings

> > now

> > points to, and XP gave unfettered access to these folders, why do I still

> > have trouble viewing files in some of the USERS subfolders? Where can I

> > find

> > complete documentation of this major change in OS security behavior. The

> > Vista Help and Support is woefully lacking in providing Admin-type

> > information about this sort of stuff and having to Google (excuse me, Live

> > Search??) for information is pretty silly.

> >

> > Al

> >

> > "Jimmy Brush" wrote:

> >

> >> Hello,

> >>

> >> You are most likely talking about the Vista application compatability

> >> "junctions" - they look like shortcuts to folders, with a shortcut arrow

> >> and

> >> a dimmed/ghosted folder icon. For example, "My Documents", "My Pictures",

> >> "Documents and Settings".

> >>

> >> These are not really folders, but pointers to other locations on your

> >> computer that some apps need to use under certain scenarios. For example,

> >> Documents and Settings points to the Users folder.

> >>

> >> You can't browse into these junctions. The reasoning isn't to lock you

> >> out,

> >> but to keep applications from thinking these are real folders and getting

> >> confused.

> >>

> >> --

> >> - JB

> >> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

> >>

> >> "Al" <Al@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> >> news:BE3968CF-CAC2-4BB5-8094-620EEB5EEEA3@microsoft.com...

> >> > New to Vista (Ultimate). Why, when I'm logged in as Administrator, are

> >> > there

> >> > folders on the disk that produce an "Access denied" error when I try to

> >> > browse them? I thought the purpose of the Administrator account was to

> >> > provide full and complete access to the computer including any

> >> > folder/file

> >> > on

> >> > the disk regardless of creator/owner status. This is new (and very

> >> > annoying)

> >> > behavior since XP Pro. What settings need to be tweaked?

> >> >

> >> > TIA.

> >> 

>

James Matthews · Nov 20, 2007

Make sure admin access to that resource is enabled! Then run it as an

administrator by clicking with your right mouse button and selecting run as

administrator

--

http://www.goldwatches.com/movado--watches.html

http://www.jewelerslounge.com/

"Al" <Al@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:BE3968CF-CAC2-4BB5-8094-620EEB5EEEA3@microsoft.com...

> New to Vista (Ultimate). Why, when I'm logged in as Administrator, are

> there

> folders on the disk that produce an "Access denied" error when I try to

> browse them? I thought the purpose of the Administrator account was to

> provide full and complete access to the computer including any folder/file

> on

> the disk regardless of creator/owner status. This is new (and very

> annoying)

> behavior since XP Pro. What settings need to be tweaked?

>

> TIA.

>

rac8006 · Feb 15, 2008

I went to the trouble of e3nabling the administrator account login. Now

either with the administrator login or using the run as administrator I get

an access denied when trying to do a fs.GetFolder(filespec) when the

filespace contains "c:\windows\Live KernelReports" If I don't put the on

error statement the script gets the access denied error. With the on error

it just skips the directory. I can't figure how to get the on error

statement to allow me to display the filespec when it gets the error.

All I'm tryuing to do is run a vbscript that will give the amount of

diskspace that a folder contains. But it skips some folders apperantly

because of the access denied.

P.S. It would be nive if one count test the filespec to see if it is a

junction. Then you could skip trying to do the GetFolderSize and display

that it is a junction.

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:



> Hello,

>

> There are junctions that reside in the users folder.

>

> For example, "all users" and "default user" are not really folders and thus

> do not contain any files.

>

> Ghosted folder + shortcut arrow + "access denied" = junction.

>

> All users is now: c

rogramdata

> default user is now: c:usersdefault

>

> If you are handy with a command prompt, issuing the command 'dir /al' will

> show you a list of the junctions in the current directory, and where they

> point to in brackets.

>

> For what it's worth, I disagree with this behavior myself, and tried to get

> Microsoft to provide a better error message or an "automatic redirect" to

> the folder that the junction points to durring the beta.

>

> If you are having trouble with files or folders that are not junctions,

> please post the specific location, and I will do my best to assist you.

>

> --

> - JB

> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

>

> "Al" <Al@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:59577B48-A09B-4747-81DD-CEB8D1A55E41@microsoft.com...

> > Thanks, Jimmy, I had already discovered some information regarding this,

> > however, I'm still curious as to why I don't get full access to the USERS

> > folder, for example. If this is the location that Documents and Settings

> > now

> > points to, and XP gave unfettered access to these folders, why do I still

> > have trouble viewing files in some of the USERS subfolders? Where can I

> > find

> > complete documentation of this major change in OS security behavior. The

> > Vista Help and Support is woefully lacking in providing Admin-type

> > information about this sort of stuff and having to Google (excuse me, Live

> > Search??) for information is pretty silly.

> >

> > Al

> >

> > "Jimmy Brush" wrote:

> >

> >> Hello,

> >>

> >> You are most likely talking about the Vista application compatability

> >> "junctions" - they look like shortcuts to folders, with a shortcut arrow

> >> and

> >> a dimmed/ghosted folder icon. For example, "My Documents", "My Pictures",

> >> "Documents and Settings".

> >>

> >> These are not really folders, but pointers to other locations on your

> >> computer that some apps need to use under certain scenarios. For example,

> >> Documents and Settings points to the Users folder.

> >>

> >> You can't browse into these junctions. The reasoning isn't to lock you

> >> out,

> >> but to keep applications from thinking these are real folders and getting

> >> confused.

> >>

> >> --

> >> - JB

> >> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

> >>

> >> "Al" <Al@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> >> news:BE3968CF-CAC2-4BB5-8094-620EEB5EEEA3@microsoft.com...

> >> > New to Vista (Ultimate). Why, when I'm logged in as Administrator, are

> >> > there

> >> > folders on the disk that produce an "Access denied" error when I try to

> >> > browse them? I thought the purpose of the Administrator account was to

> >> > provide full and complete access to the computer including any

> >> > folder/file

> >> > on

> >> > the disk regardless of creator/owner status. This is new (and very

> >> > annoying)

> >> > behavior since XP Pro. What settings need to be tweaked?

> >> >

> >> > TIA.

> >> 

>

Nic · Jun 24, 2008

Hi Jimmy

Hope you can help me. I accidentally remove the permissions of my C:\ drive

and now I cannot access it. I've tried to take ownership of it but it kept

on giving me the message " Can't open access control editor. Acces denied."

The same message appear no matter what I try.

"Jimmy Brush" wrote:



> Hello,

>

> You are most likely talking about the Vista application compatability

> "junctions" - they look like shortcuts to folders, with a shortcut arrow and

> a dimmed/ghosted folder icon. For example, "My Documents", "My Pictures",

> "Documents and Settings".

>

> These are not really folders, but pointers to other locations on your

> computer that some apps need to use under certain scenarios. For example,

> Documents and Settings points to the Users folder.

>

> You can't browse into these junctions. The reasoning isn't to lock you out,

> but to keep applications from thinking these are real folders and getting

> confused.

>

> --

> - JB

> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

>

> "Al" <Al@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:BE3968CF-CAC2-4BB5-8094-620EEB5EEEA3@microsoft.com...

> > New to Vista (Ultimate). Why, when I'm logged in as Administrator, are

> > there

> > folders on the disk that produce an "Access denied" error when I try to

> > browse them? I thought the purpose of the Administrator account was to

> > provide full and complete access to the computer including any folder/file

> > on

> > the disk regardless of creator/owner status. This is new (and very

> > annoying)

> > behavior since XP Pro. What settings need to be tweaked?

> >

> > TIA. 

>

Access denied as Administrator

Al

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Jimmy Brush

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Scott Hauge

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Jimmy Brush

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Scott Hauge

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Scott Hauge

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Dave T.

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Scott Hauge

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Jimmy Brush

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Al

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Jimmy Brush

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Al

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James Matthews

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rac8006

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Nic

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