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Q246023: Cannot Remove Folder Without Being Prompted

Article: Q246023
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:3.51,4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbtool
Last Modified: 06-AUG-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

You may receive the following error message when you attempt to remove a folder
that is owned by a deleted user, especially if the deleted user was the only
user with Full Control permissions on the folder:

  Cannot remove folder <Path>:
  Access Denied. Make sure the disk is not full or write protected and that the
  file is not currently in use.

When you attempt to take ownership of the entire folder structure, you may
receive an "Access denied" prompt for each subfolder. It could take a long time
to process a large folder structure.

MORE INFORMATION
================

You can use the Subinacl.exe and Xcacls.exe tools from the Microsoft Windows NT
Service Resource Kit to make this process easier. For example, to remove a
folder named U3 and its subfolders, use the following commands:

  g:\users\testing> subinacl /subdirectories u3 /setowner=Administrator

  g:\users\testing> xcacls u3 /T /G Administrator:F

Subinacl sets the owner to Administrator and Xcacls gives the Administrator
account Full Control (F) permissions.

The /subdirectories switch for Subinacl.exe specifies that the tool also process
subfolders. The /setowner switch specifies the account name that should be made
the owner.

The /T switch for Xcacls.exe specifies that the tool also process subfolders. The
/G switch means "Grant."

NOTE: There may be cases in which Subinacl does not act on a subfolder. In this
case, use the /file switch in place of the /subdirectories switch, and change
the owner of the one file or folder. For example:

  subinacl /file u3 /setowner=Administrator

For additional information about these tools, type the following commands after
you install the tools from the Resource Kit:

  subinacl /help

  xcacls /help

Additional query words: code 5 net helpmsg

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Keywords          : kbtool 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT351search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS351search
Version           : winnt:3.51,4.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

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