Need Permission From SYSTEM?

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So, Ive got a file on my external hard drive that I have no idea how it got there. Its full of other files and random shit. I try to delete it and originally I got the message sayin I need permission from SYSTEM. I changed all the user permissions to allow full control, and nothing changed. I changed the owner of the folder to my own account, instead of SYSTEM, and still nothin. I booted in safe mode and tried to delete, still nothin. What else can I do?
 
if all else fails, take off all data that you care about and put them somewhere else temporarily, like you computer HDD.

format external HDD, which will erase everything, then transfer the files back.
 
without knowing what the filename is there's not much we can tell you about what it might be.
 
What is the file called?

Its a long jumble of numbers and letters lol. I gotta wait till I get home to get it.

if all else fails, take off all data that you care about and put them somewhere else temporarily, like you computer HDD.

format external HDD, which will erase everything, then transfer the files back.

Thats what I was thinkin, but was hopin to find a faster solution lol.

without knowing what the filename is there's not much we can tell you about what it might be.

What kind of file names do I need to look out for? Is this a common thing, or what?

If it's windows 7, there's a common solution for this type of problem

It is Win 7, and a Western Digital Passport HD, if that makes a difference.
 
right click on it and go to security. take ownership of the drive and allow read and write to the admin and your username.

given that its an external drive, if you dont need it, its safe to assume you can delete it. its probably registry crap or hidden files from the factory that will launch one of their stupid ass crap-ware.
 
Folder name "d403832615e72130d2e19f9476"

right click on it and go to security. take ownership of the drive and allow read and write to the admin and your username.

No dice.

Take and Grant Full Control Permissions and Ownership in Windows 7 or Vista Right Click Menu « My Digital Life

This is my trick I use, let me know if it helps. I'm pretty good with electronics when it comes to computers, gadgets and stuff of that nature.

Ill hafta try this later tonite, when Ive got more time.
 
its a passport that file is your security code for the drive. those things are flaky as fuck. there should have been some software that came with the drive that will let you remove everything but that file.
 
hulk smash!!

if you have enough room on another hard drive, you can do what gsrcrx suggested and copy your files over to your main machine. then do a low level format and put everything back.

btw, is the file big? if it isnt and its just sitting there, why try to fix it if it aint broken? =)

anyway, if find a way to take onwership of the drive, it should let you delete it as well. maybe try safemode and change the persmission?
 
I might end up doin that, if itll remove it. Its only 24MB, but I hate lookin at it.

Tried changin permissions in safe mode too. Nothin.
 
thats wierd man, if you have some people on this site you truly trust and are also handy with computers, you could vnc to them and have them try and solve the problem for you, thats usually what i do with my hardware engineer friend if i'm having super complications
 
dude, like i said, just format the drive. that will get rid of it. any external drive i buy i reformat cause i dont want their bullshit software on there.
 
Think I will. When I do that can I just unistall the program that came on it, then will windows recognize it as just a removeable drive?
 
no you cant uninstall it, the files are in the hard drive and some are pretty persistant and hide itself in there pretty deep. i would do a complete format (slow) and itll wipe it. if you do 'quick format,' the data on the file will not be available per se so it can be written over, but its still there.
 
Sorry, I meant the automatic backup program that was loaded on the external, that I installed on my laptop.
 
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