So this has been ongoing for some time and I still haven't been able to resolve it.

I have a load of music files on my PC that I copied back from an external USB HDD and I cannot delete them of my regular HDD.

I'm running XP home. When I try to dlete them I just get an 'Acess Denied, ....' box appear.

So far I have teied going into Safe Mode, excessing the Security tab on the folder options, and in 'advanced' setting every folder on my C drive to Full acess by all users. This is what it says to do on the MS web site.

And still no joy. I've had to copy back all my music onto my HDD from my iPod because it was all so buggered. I've moved the 30 or so albums that just will not delete into a different place so as not to interfer with my new install, but it just drives me nuts that they are sitting there, taking up disk space, and WIL NOT let me delete them off, whatever I seem to do.

Any ideas techie people?

you can try and use the old fashioned dos method, by using the command prompt to get access to the hard drive and try deleting that way.

On the right click menu can you cut not copy the files and paste them back to the USB drive? Will they delete from there? Have you got more than one user profile on the computer and are you signing on? Delete the other profiles if necessary so you only have the administrator left then in the properties tab make sure read only and hidden is not checked and under security add everyone or whoever you want from the list of users.

[Edited on 9/10/06 by Peteff]

Were the files on the external HDD originally placed there by a different computer (or your own computer and you've reinstalled Windows since)? Is it an NTFS filesystem? If so then the chances are the files are owned by someone else (even if the username is the same the SID will be different).

If the above is the case, then you need to do 2 things.

1. Enable Advanced Security. As you're using Windows XP Home you have to do this via Safe Mode, see this link for details.

2. Take ownership of the files. Follow this link to see how to do that.


The above of course assumes that you're logged in with administrative rights.

First try deleting the flder containing them,

second, delete a few at a time, when ever ive had this problem its just a single file in ther thats stoping me deleting the rest when i select them all.

Dos - wouldn't have a clue where to start - instructions please

Can't copy them to USB drive - says access denied, wouldn't help anyway as they'd still be on the C drive.

BTW - these were recovered by Windows Back-Up

Deleted the only other user on the PC - it's just a spare acccount I use to run the wifes iPod anywhere. Still can't change the permissions.....

All files have only come from this PC - I've never connected any other PC to the USB drive, and yes, same file system NTFS.

Ginger - done the Safe Mode thing - read my original post! You know, it's funny this, because I've posted this problem on 3 different techie type Windows help forums, detailing exactly what I have done regards what the MS web site says about going through the whole Safe Mode thing, and yet nearly every post anybody has put up has just told me to do exactly what I've already done, it's like nobody every bothers reading the detail!!!

Jacnco - yes, tried that too, it's every file in every folder .......

So thanks chaps - any more thoughts?????

quote:

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Originally posted by Jasper
So thanks chaps - any more thoughts?????

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Thanks Ned - option 3 for me I think

If you find that deleting thing - let me know ....

quote:

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Originally posted by Jasper
Ginger - done the Safe Mode thing - read my original post!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Jasper
So far I have teied going into Safe Mode, excessing the Security tab on the folder options, and in 'advanced' setting every folder on my C drive to Full acess by all users. This is what it says to do on the MS web site.

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quote:

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Originally posted by gingerprince
Take ownership of the files

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Sorry - I really didn't mean to offend - but I did do that as well - that's what I meant by following the instructions on the MS website. I've just had so many people reply to this and not read my original post. I didn't pull ALL the steps down to what I've already done, but I did do that.....

It was said tongue in cheek - you're input is appreacited - really..... I've just got to the very frustrated stage

to change in dos command

1) open windows explorer, highlight the directory where your file are.
2) from the address bar copy the address using right click.
3) open command prompt from windows accessories.
4) type in "cd" this will take you back to the c: root.
5) type in "cd_ then right click and paste in your directory name," ensure you have space between the cd and directory name
6) type in "attrib" this will list your files in the directory amd the attributes.
7) it should show an A first to show archive files, if it shows R this is read only, and H is hidden
8) to remove all read only attributes type in "attrib -r *.*" for hidden replace the r with a h.
9) if you now do attrib again this should of cleared the attruibutes.
10) you should now be able to delete in windows explorer or by using del *.* (warning this will remove everthing the directory) ensure you are in the correct directory.
to exit command prompt type in "exit"

hope this helps.