Can't delete folder, need permission from adminstrator?

There's a folder on my desktop called like 'example' and when I try to delete it it says "You require permission from the computer's admistrator to make changes to this folder" when checking the properties; the Current owner says "Unable to display current owner."

I have tried many solutions found online, including enabling & signing into the adminstrator account, but haven't been able to fix it. My situation is extremely similar to this.

I can't even open the folder. I am running Windows 7 x64 Home Premium. I can't do anything to the folder because I need permission from my 'computer administrator' It's extremely weird, and I can't fix it. Thanks in advance!

UPDATE: Yes, I'm adminsitrator on my computer.

windows-7

MatthewSot

Posted 2011-05-28T03:29:08.167

Reputation: 3 617

If you go to computer management (right-click on "My Computer" and select "Manage"), then "Shared Folders," and then "Open Files" ... is the file/folder listed there as Open? – Uninspired – 2011-05-28T04:50:41.280

This is more than likely not an issue of Admin privileges. I would put money on this folder being used by an application or malware. Try booting into safe mode (F8 on boot) and deleting the folder. – Paxamime – 2011-05-30T04:48:39.177

you can also try LongPathTool. its for deleting files,folder,pictures and etc. that "can't be deleted" :D – None – 2012-01-26T20:07:32.127

Answers

Try running Unlocker on the folder.

Dour High Arch

Posted 2011-05-28T03:29:08.167

Reputation: 1 037

Reset the properties of the folder.

Start menu → All Programs → Accessories → Right click on Command Prompt → Run As Administrator.

The type the following

cd\path\to\location\of\the\folder
takeown /r /d y /f example
icacls example /reset /t /c /q

Sathyajith Bhat

Posted 2011-05-28T03:29:08.167

Reputation: 58 436

To finish things off: the command for deleting the folder and everything below it is: rmdir /S /Q example – Cristi Diaconescu – 2015-09-21T07:51:49.157

2This works great. I made a batch file containing the two commands, replacing "example" with "%1" in the batch file. – Jon Onstott – 2013-04-07T00:27:30.843

This worked great for me too when copying data from a HDD from an old XP machine. Bear in mind the top path is the parent directory for the folder you wish to change the properties of, in my scenario O:\Documents and Settings with example being the user directory name. – HaydnWVN – 2013-04-09T09:05:32.940

Unlocker has helped me delete almost every stubborn file/folder I've come across. Perhaps you should give it a try.

CGA

Posted 2011-05-28T03:29:08.167

Reputation: 3 767

How about booting from some Linux Live CD and then deleting the folder from Linux? You can also use Volkov Commander, it should delete the folder...

http://vvv.kiev.ua/download/

Einsteins Grandson

Posted 2011-05-28T03:29:08.167

Reputation: 536

I ran into this issue but in my situation it was not fixed by changing permissions. I tried what Sathya suggested using the administrator account, but I kept getting "Access denied" messages.

Then I found out that I had an open Cygwin terminal on that specific folder. As soon as I 'cd' out of that folder I was able to delete the folder in question without problem.

For some reason, the message I was getting when trying to delete the folder was not "Another application is accessing the folder", but a misguiding "You require permission from the computer's administrator to make changes to this folder".

cvacca

Posted 2011-05-28T03:29:08.167

Reputation: 111

This happened to me too. I was building something and Cywgin wouldn't let go. In the build process, there was a ls running somewhere that never completed. As soon as I killed the ls and the window that started up the build, the folder was no longer wacko. – kmort – 2013-12-19T13:49:22.590