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 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 and specifying Administrator.

/user:ComputerName\AdministratorAccountName

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