[SOLVED] Every folder I create within a folder on my C: drive is being protected ?

[Forgemaster Wolf]

Recently I've began having an issue with my Windows. When I create a folder on my C: drive (E.g. C: \Emulation) every folder within that folder becomes protected and requires administrator permissions for some reason. (E.g. C: \Emulation \Sony) That Sony folder also becomes protected for some reason. Which causes a lot of issues with emulators or any app I'd like to install outside of my program files folder. Forcing me to always run them as an administrator or them not working at all. I've never had this issue happen to me before.

Things I have tried to fix this:

• Running DISM/SFC commands via Command Prompt
• Running the chkdsk C: /f
• Reinstalling Windows 11
• Completely resetting my laptop and choosing the clean drive option from the reset settings
• Completely disabling UAC

I have literally tried everything I could think of to fix this, yet nothing worked at all.

The only 2 other options I have either getting a clean image of Windows 11 on a USB drive and completely formating my drive before trying again or downgrading to Windows 10 and using the LTSC version unless someone here knows how to fix this.

Windows 11 version: Version 23H2 (OS Build 22631.2861)

Thanks in advance, I'm legit desperate.

 

[Colif]

Every folder created on windows is set to read only by default but you have access to all their contents and can do whatever you like provided you have permissions.

That is normal. It happens on 10 as well.

 

[Forgemaster Wolf]

Every folder created on windows is set to read only by default but you have access to all their contents and can do whatever you like provided you have permissions.

That is normal. It happens on 10 as well.

I'm sorry because this will sound rude via text, but I'm not sure how your information would help. Because even when I set my UAC to be off, it still asks for my permission for anything to happen and makes programs just stop functioning. Which isn't normal according to everyone I've known. Something is horribly wrong. And I do not know what. I've let portable installs apps be in their own folders outside of program files for the past year, especially games and emulators. But now they have some extremely strict protection that I've never had to deal with before.

 

[USAFRet]

What @Colif says is absolutely true.

Folders are by default ReadOnly. When you or the system needs to interacts with something, it is then write enabled, only for the length of that transaction.

This is not something you need to mess with or worry about.

 

[SkyNetRising]

When I create a folder on my C: drive (E.g. C: \Emulation) every folder within that folder becomes protected and requires administrator permissions for some reason.

Thanks in advance, I'm legit desperate.

Take ownership of this folder.
Do not run this command on c:\windows or you'll have to reinstall.

takeown /f c:\foldername /r​

icacls c:\foldername /reset /t​

 

[Forgemaster Wolf]

Take ownership of this folder.
Do not run this command on c:\windows or you'll have to reinstall.

takeown /f c:\foldername /r​

icacls c:\foldername /reset /t​

I already did something similar using the security menu from the properties tab of the drive and the folder a few hours ago based on a friend's recommendations.

I just used the commands and I've had nothing change and programs still require me to be admin to function properly or just straight up not work.


If what I did hours ago screwed me over and I'd need to reinstall Windows for the 3rd time, I might as well abandon technology and become an Amish farmhand lol.

 

[Ralston18]

@Forgemaster Wolf

Are you familar with Group Policy Editor?

May help sort out who has access and permission/rights to the folders etc. involved.

However, you must have the necessary rights and permissions to make changes. If not, then whoever has those rights and permissions will need to make the changes.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I just used the commands and I've had nothing change and programs still require me to be admin to function properly or just straight up not work.

Command has to be executed from elevated command prompt.
Can you show screenshot with command output?

takeown /f c:\emulation /r​

icacls c:\emulation /reset /t​

(upload to imgur.com and post link)

If what I did hours ago screwed me over and I'd need to reinstall Windows for the 3rd time, I might as well abandon technology and become an Amish farmhand lol.

I mentioned about reinstalling windows, so you don't run those commands on c:\windows folder.
You can run it on any other user created folder ( like c:\emulation ) just fine.

 

[Forgemaster Wolf]

@Ralston18, I'm the only user of the laptop and my account is the only user on it. My account is the administrator. I have searched for the Group Policy Editor on the Window's search bar only to be met with no results. I tried opening it using the Run and Command prompt and they both either gave me an error or said the command wasn't a thing respectively. I made sure that I typed it right and even went back and copied the commands.

And for @SkyNetRising, here ya go this time is said something different for the first command when I used it. Open the link so you can see both images.

https://imgur.com/a/DT6F2iz

View: https://imgur.com/a/DT6F2iz

 

[Ralston18]

Reference:

"I tried opening it using the Run and Command prompt and they both either gave me an error or said the command wasn't a thing respectively."

What were the specific errors - take a screenshot and post accordingly.

Also:

Right click the Windows icon > Run > enter "gpedit.msc" (without quotes).

Does Group Policy Editor open?

If not, post a screen shot showing any pop-up windows, error messages, etc. that result.

 

[Forgemaster Wolf]

@Ralston18 The Run menu says it cannot find it, check the image. Keep in mind I have the Home version of WIndows in case it's something only on the Pro version.

https://imgur.com/a/85x3G8n

View: https://imgur.com/a/85x3G8n

 

[Forgemaster Wolf]

@Ralston18 @SkyNetRising

It seems my issue has been fixed, I made a boot drive with Rufus and completely cleaned my drive. Now that I have all my drivers installed, it no longer asks me for admin permissions, and everything functions normally like how it used to be.