Win XP: can't delete files: Permissions/Recycle Bin issue?

[Lobster]

I hate to use this forum for IT support but I've spent the entire afternoon on this and am at my wits' end - can anyone help please?

I've just acquired a new (to me) laptop running XP Pro SP3 (it's arrived with a clean install). I've been getting it 'sorted' during the week (ie installing Office etc and generally customising stuff) howewver something's Gone Wrong and the upshot is that I can't delete any files - getting 'Access is denied' error regardless of file location.

It was working OK on delivery, so it's something I've done here. The only relevant thing I can think of is that I renamed the user account, from something like "user" to "David". It's the only account, and is a full Administrator one.

I can, however, delete files by selecting [SHIFT][DELETE] - ie permanent deletion, not sending them to the Recycle Bin. On the thought that the Recycle Bin was corrupt or something, I tried deleting the C:\RECYCLER folder from a DOS window and let XP recreate it on re-boot - however, it made no difference at all. I can also delete files manually at the DOS prompt.

What on earth's wrong - any ideas please? Cheers David

[John Rumm]

What format has been used on the hard drive (i.e. NTFS or FAT), the former has far more security options one can fiddle with ;-)

What happens if you change it back?

What about creating a new Admin account?

Also check the obvious[1] DOS level read only flag on the recyler/d folders... (attrib )

[1] Obvious, in that after hours of attempting to get a network driver loaded and getting weird errors from an installer about be unable to wire files, and trying every trick in the book to reset file security permissions to default etc. I eventually thought to do a attrib command in the system32\drivers folder, and noticed read only flags on a few files!

[Graham.]

Have you tried setting up a new user account with admin rights? Areyou usinf NTFS file permissions, try turning it off (turn on "Simple file sharing")

[Adrian C]

[Brian Gaff]

This seems to be a feature of XP. The program I used from the start was I think called Erunt. So when I changed the user name, which of course does not actually change the actual user name at all, and nothing worked right any more, I simply installed that mornings registry, and did a reboot and it was fine. The only way I found to get around this other than this minor inconvenience of having a different name was to create a whole new user then log in as the admin and move the files over. Of course if you have installed lots of software you are bound to find issues if its been installed as one user and might not allow acces from another. its a pain for a single user machine, but pro does have this and I suppose it was with good intentions that its there. all I'll say is that 7 is a hundred times more complicated in this respect!

You could try system restore to before you changed the name. Brian

[82045]

It's kinds interesting that a slightly OT thread e.g. computing, get a far larger number of replies than many of those to do with traditional DIY. Is the growth of GSI a contributory factor?

[Andy Burns]

Speaking for myself it's the result of too many started DIY projects and not enough finished ones, I need a big dose of kick-ass to get going again ...

[Tinkerer]

GSI??? You got me there, what is it then? All I can come up with is Get Stuck In.

[John Rumm]

Get Someone In perhaps?

[Weatherlawyer]

Steve Gibson was involved with a notable controversy over the Microsoft WMF vulnerability, an issue raised in 2006 where a Windows Metafile image could trigger execution of arbitrary code. Gibson analyzed an unofficial patch issued by Ilfak Guilfanov, and publicly speculated both on a podcast called Security Now! as well as on his web site

se of the use of an API called SetAbortProc which was originally intended a= s a mechanism for canceling print jobs, which in his view made no sense.>the "XP Christmas of Death" in 2001 describing the outcomes of Microsoft= 's implementation of the SOCK_RAW protocol.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Groin Strain Injury?