Getting control in Vista

OldBuzzard · Apr 3, 2008, 02:45 PM

Well, I've installed Vista X64 on one of my partitions, and I'm finding a LOT of things I like

However, there are a few things that I'm not overly enthused about

Now, I got the danged UAC turned off, and that's made life a LOT simpler, but I'm having problems with 'Ownership' of files and folders.

I do a lot of 'tweaking'of files in IL2, and FSX, and a few other places, and I keep getting the 'access denied' BS, and then have to go in a get ownership, and it's a pain in the butt. I use WINDOWS EXPLORER a lot, and that's where I''m having problems.

I'm not afraid to experiment, and if I totally trash this OS, it's no big deal as I have 5 other OSs that I can use, so all I would need to do is re-install the Vista one.

Is there any fairly easy way to get total 'ownership'/control over Vista? Similar to what we have in XP? I just want to go to where I want to go in the system, and change what I want to change without any BS.

Judas · Apr 3, 2008, 03:31 PM

Generally, for myself, there is no issues...

Where are you going? what are you modifying?

I mean aside from deleteing specific entries in the program files folder or windows folder, anywhere else is game, not even uac bothers me.

i have to allow only once, if i want to load up msconfig or regedit via run command..

But you got UAC disabled.. you shouldn't have any issues at all...

mkk · Apr 3, 2008, 03:39 PM

The access and ownership rules are written into the filesystem itself so there's no switch to flip in the operating system to override those rules. If a game denies the user access to certain files by using these rules then it's something that the game designer intended to do, and fortunately an unusual move from what I've seen.

There is a CMD command named takeown that I suppose can be used to speed up the process of taking ownership of files and folders, but I haven't had a reason to use it over the visual interface yet.

Quote:

c:\>takeown /?

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

Mousey · Apr 3, 2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkk

The access and ownership rules are written into the filesystem itself so there's no switch to flip in the operating system to override those rules. If a game denies the user access to certain files by using these rules then it's something that the game designer intended to do, and fortunately an unusual move from what I've seen.

There is a CMD command named takeown that I suppose can be used to speed up the process of taking ownership of files and folders, but I haven't had a reason to use it over the visual interface yet.

I have, needed to modify the hosts file so people could access my WoW server a while back.
I used the Takeown method and the file was mine, i could do whatever the hell i wanted with it, recommended method

Zelig · Apr 3, 2008, 05:54 PM

Are you an admin user on the OS?

If so, that seems sort of odd, I've never personally seen problems with ownership/control outside of Window's files themselves.

Mousey · Apr 3, 2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelig

Are you an admin user on the OS?

If so, that seems sort of odd, I've never personally seen problems with ownership/control outside of Window's files themselves.

You even think about right clicking in the windows directory and windows goes wild

OldBuzzard · Apr 3, 2008, 10:04 PM

Yup, and things like the Favorites folder...lots of stuff, especially if you are in Windows Explorer. Many applications are putting files in the documents and settings areas, adnd that's one of the ones I had to go in and 'claim'. Hard to drag and drop profiles for my X52, and other things like that.

Now, knowing how clueless the majority of the users are, having Vista locked up fairly tight like it is,isn't necesssarily a bad thing. I can understand that.

However, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. I go back to the Windows for Workgroups 3.11 days, so I'm comfortable working around iside all the various .ini files, and know enough to know when I don't know.

I guess the best way to explain it...I want GOD mode for Vista

stormy13 · Apr 3, 2008, 10:27 PM

Try this,

Add "Take Ownership" to Explorer Right-Click Menu in Vista :: the How-To Geek

Judas · Apr 4, 2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mousey

You even think about right clicking in the windows directory and windows goes wild

i opened up the windows folder just now..... never asked me a thing...

then i opened up the system folder.. it brought up the confirmation box to proceed..... once..... from there.. i can do whatever i wish without further issue aside from trying to delete a critical windows file (which i shouldn't be doing in the first place)...

Alot of prefabbed vista machines have all the users set with a "semi admin" account.. and the real admin account is hidden away, this is saposed to "protect the users" from themselves.

By default, i don't think windows vista is THAT picky unless i'm missing something.....

cause i can right click, cut/copy/paste.....modify to my hearts content even within the windows and system folders....

However i cannot do that on this toshiba over here ..... because it's only "semi" admin...

OldBuzzard · Apr 4, 2008, 12:46 PM

Well, I finally just started down the line and taking ownership of any folder that gave me the access denied...I got pretty quick at doing that after a bit . Sometimes...ya jut gotta use a bigger hammer

That, of course, was before stormy13 posted the .reg file. I D/Led it and have it saved for when I do a re-install.

BiGBrOwNPimpsta · Apr 5, 2008, 12:33 AM

easiest way to have unrestricted access is to unlock the admin account. But caution, if you DO want UAC warnings and protection time to time to block malicious software, don't use it.

to unlock it, open up command prompt by running command prompt with admin privelages (type in cmd in the searchbox in the start menu, right click cmd.exe and open as administrator). then type in

Net user administrator /active:yes

Logoff and you will see "Administrator". Log on and it will give you a brand new profile. What you can do is maybe import your settings from your existing account over to this Administrator. If the import goes fine, delete your old one and rename the Administrator to whatever you want. What I usually do now is after a reformat I just delete the original account I create, then rename the admin account and begin reinstalling my shit.

Why does Vista never give you unrestricted access by default? Well it is good and bad. Vista is great for dummies but not power users. It restricts a lot of access and ownership creditentials to be edited by a normal user. Even if you are are an administrator, you normally do not have the maximum elevated permission level (even if you press ok on the UAC box). Vista says you are an Administrator with unrestricted access, but in reality you are not. It is the disabled Administrator account in Vista which is locked on default that gives you the full access. It becomes a confusing bitch. But it is good for the people "what's this hidden file? should I delete it?" or suddenly installing spyware so easily without your consent. I am pretty careful with system files and what is safe to delete or not nowadays. In addition, I do need to edit permissions like I did in the past and the folder did not let me in Vista, I am a power user. With the administrator account, no more UAC nagging that Vista has been crapped on about.