Windows File and Folder Permissions

Heighway61

I restored some files and folders from a windows XP .bkf file on a usb drive onto the c: drive of a windows 10 machine.

When I try to open any file e.g., a text file I get a permission denied message. I checked and have full permissions.

The original file xp location was c:\document and settings\administrator\desktop\

Any ideas on how I can open the files?

The Continental Op

Can't you take control of the files? Possibly right click - properties - security - advanced?

The security identifiers that the XP machine created won't match the ones files created on your new machine so just because you can see your name having permission doesn't mean you can access it on the new machine as they system sees something completely different. Although normally when that happens you just see gibberish names for the file owner(s).

Also try removing your access rights then adding them back again.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058288381/windows-file-and-folder-permissions

hi,

.bkf are backup files created by Windows Backup utility. Unfortunately they used an older version for NT thru XP & you will need to download some software to view these bkf’s in W10 it can’t be done nativity.

Alternatively you can view them on an XP machine.

This would not be a permissions problem either despite the message.

You can convert or view them in software (just google .bkf xp conversion or viewer or whatever)

Heighway61

I extracted the files ok to the windows 10 machine. I was having no problems opening any files until I tried files at the path above. These gave the permission refusal message.

smuggler.ie

taking "ownership" on folder let you see the folder, but not the contents, unless you sellect box to propagate to all subcontainers and objects

and/or you might need to change permission for your user from "This folder only" to "This folder, subfolders and files" on root folder if inheritance in place, or per subfolder if no inheritance

ItHurtsWhenIP

Try taking "ownership" of the folder, by:

1. Right-click the top level folder that you extracted
2. Click Properties
3. Select Security tab
4. Click Advanced
5. Click Change beside the owner name, locate your own user name and select it
6. Check the box for "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects"
7. Click Apply

I think that should give you access now.

magicbastarder

at what folder level do you have permissions? you could try this at an admin command prompt:

To reset permissions for a folder, its files, and subfolders, run the command icacls "full path to the folder" /reset /t /c /l

Though Evelyn Weak Tweet suggests it's not a permissions issue - Evelyn Weak Tweet, what's the issue that results from restoring a backup from an older version of NTFS?

The Continental Op

If nothing else works the nuclear option is to create a bootable Linux USB key, boot off it navigate to the folder in windows then copy the files off to another USB key/drive. Linux will take no notice of the MS Windows permissions.

https://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/how-to-retrieve-windows-files-using-a-linux-live-cd/

Nothing on the Windows install will be damaged and when finished you can boot back into Windows.

Heighway61

I'm away from the machine for a while.

I needed to get a text file containing web logins that was on the xp machine administrator profile desktop (I used the administrator account on that machine). The machine is long gone but I remembered I had the backup on the usb drive.

I plugged the usb drive into a windows 10 laptop and downloaded the nt5backup cab file, extracted and ran ntbackup.exe. I brought up the bkf file in ntbackup explorer and started to drill down through the backup file folder structure. I spotted a folder of old family photos so restored those first on their own. This worked fine, I could open them in 10.

I then started another restore. Browsed to profiles\administrator and selected the Desktop folder. I left the retain security option ticked (problem?). Ran restore but the log when finished showed some skipped files because of permissions. Some files did restore but none will open. Don't see a pattern.

Thanks for the suggestions, will give them a go when I get back to the laptop.

Edit: I'm an administrator on the 10 machine.

PowerShell is one option to alter permissions, but messier than chmod on Linux.