Locked out of my own folder: TakeOwn help

[TheRunaway]

I have two partitions on my computer, one for windows and one for my documents which had folders set to be private. I recently reformatted only to realize that I could no longer access those private folders. I have the "TakeOwn" program and it appears to work for individual files and folders, but I have thousands that I need to unlock and it would take forever to copy and paste file names. Is there a way to unlock one folder and its subsequent files/folders?

[profdlp]

You need to use the /R switch. :)

TAKEOWN [/S system [/U username [/P [password]]]]
/F filename [/A] [/R [/D prompt]]

Description:
This tool allows an administrator to recover access to a file that
was denied by re-assigning file ownership.

Parameter List:
/S system Specifies the remote system to
connect to.

/U [domain\]user Specifies the user context under
which the command should execute.

/P [password] Specifies the password for the
given user context.
Prompts for input if omitted.

/F filename Specifies the filename or directory
name pattern. Wildcard "*" can be used
to specify the pattern. Allows
sharename\filename.

/A Gives ownership to the administrators
group instead of the current user.

/R Recurse: instructs tool to operate on
files in specified directory and all
subdirectories.

/D prompt Default answer used when the current user
does not have the "list folder" permission
on a directory. This occurs while operating
recursively (/R) on sub-directories. Valid
values "Y" to take ownership or "N" to skip.

/? Displays this help message.

NOTE: 1) If /A is not specified, file ownership will be given to the
current logged on user.

2) Mixed patterns using "?" and "*" are not supported.

3) /D is used to suppress the confirmation prompt.

Examples:
TAKEOWN /?
TAKEOWN /F lostfile
TAKEOWN /F \\system\share\lostfile /A
TAKEOWN /F directory /R /D N
TAKEOWN /F directory /R /A
TAKEOWN /F *
TAKEOWN /F C:\Windows\System32\acme.exe
TAKEOWN /F %windir%\*.txt
TAKEOWN /S system /F MyShare\Acme*.doc
TAKEOWN /S system /U user /F MyShare\foo.dll
TAKEOWN /S system /U domain\user /P password /F share\filename
TAKEOWN /S system /U user /P password /F Doc\Report.doc /A
TAKEOWN /S system /U user /P password /F Myshare\*
TAKEOWN /S system /U user /P password /F Home\Logon /R
TAKEOWN /S system /U user /P password /F Myshare\directory /R /A

[TheRunaway]

I typed "takeown /f directory /r" and it says "Unable to assign Administrator as owner; Log on as Administrator and try again"

I'm already in and Administrator account as I can unlock individual files/folders by typing "takeown filename"

[profdlp]

Try using the /u (user) switch along with the others.

[TheRunaway]

I'm still getting the same message..

TAKEOWN /U username /F folder /R

[profdlp]

Try logging off and logging back on as Administrator.

You may want to take a look at CACLS (http://home.earthlink.net/~rlively/MANUALS/COMMANDS/C/CACLS.HTM) as well.

[TheRunaway]

I've tried booting in safe mode to get in to the Administrator account, but I get the same results.

I've played around with CACLS, but I'm having trouble figuring out exactly what I need to type.

[profdlp]

Try adding runas (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/library/ServerHelp/8782f8ab-9538-4111-8a68-7bfd130c21c0.mspx) and specifying Administrator.

/user:ComputerName\AdministratorAccountName

Hang in there - I'm sure we'll get it whipped sooner or later. :D