[SOLVED] "Save File" problem after moving to Windows 10 ?

[Pimpom]

I thought my 2TB HDD was failing (turned out to be a false alarm) and copied all my data to a new drive. At the same time, I installed Windows 10 on my SSD after having used Win 7 for some 10 years. Now I'm having problems saving over existing files after editing them.

MS Word says "Word cannot complete the save due to a file permission error". My CAD program says "Error while saving [file path and name]. Access denied". The difference between the two is that the CAD program saves the file anyway when I click 'OK'. In both cases, the error doesn't come up if I first copy the file to any other location before editing it. At this point I don't know if other file types are affected.

I've searched for a solution and these are what are cited as possible reasons:

1. File saved as read-only - not the case.
2. The file is on a network - not the case.
3. Antivirus - turning AV (Avira) off makes no difference.
4. Naming conflict - I don't see how.
5. My user account doesn't have permission for the location.

No.5 seems to be the only one with any possibility of being the cause. If so, how do I rectify the situation? And why does it relinquish the restriction when I first copy the file to another location, even to another folder in the same partition on the same disk? Identifying each of the thousands of affected files and changing folders is not a very attractive solution.

Using the same username in Win 10 as in Win 7 doesn't work. I am/was the Administrator and the only user in both cases. I don't use user account passwords.

 

[Colif]

Even though you have same user name, on both installs, its not the same user. I expect there are hidden codes that mark 1 user as different to another, even if they had same name. So its a permissions issue, windows can tell you didn't make those on current user.

When you installed win 10, was the other drive with the data on it attached? (I am assuming its not the ssd)
It shouldn't matter, what should have happened is when you open a folder on the data drive, for first time, windows 10 should have offered you the chance to take ownership. Did it? or haven't you tried to look in a folder yet?

 

[USAFRet]

Yes, a permissions issue.

The default Libraries carry the permissions of the User. Documents/Pictures/Videos.
A new OS install is a new user, even if the same username. The old Libraries will deny access.
Just like if your name is John Smith...you are not the same John Smith that lives 2 streets over, and you do not get his mail.

In NTFS, the old Pimpon is a different NTFS identifier than a new OS with the user Pimpon.

 

[SkyNetRising]

No.5 seems to be the only one with any possibility of being the cause. If so, how do I rectify the situation? And why does it relinquish the restriction when I first copy the file to another location, even to another folder in the same partition on the same disk?

Take ownership of your files.

New windows install means - new windows user (even if you named it the same as user on previous windows).
In windows - user gets identified by user ID (user name is just for user convenience). User ID gets assigned randomly on user creation.
So even in your old windows - you deleted old user and created a new one with same name, it would have a different user ID and would not have file permissions the same as before.

How to Take Ownership of Files and Folders in Windows

If you've ever been denied access to a file or folder in Windows, chances are you need to take ownership of them with your user account.

www.howtogeek.com

 

[Pimpom]

Even though you have same user name, on both installs, its not the same user. I expect there are hidden codes that mark 1 user as different to another, even if they had same name. So its a permissions issue, windows can tell you didn't make those on current user.

I assumed it's something like that. I mentioned the username thing in passing just to complete the picture.

When you installed win 10, was the other drive with the data on it attached? (I am assuming its not the ssd)

No, the other drive (HDD) was not attached when I installed Windows 10.

It shouldn't matter, what should have happened is when you open a folder on the data drive, for first time, windows 10 should have offered you the chance to take ownership. Did it? or haven't you tried to look in a folder yet?

No, Windows 10 never offered me the chance. I've opened a few dozen folders and more than a hundred files without a peep from Windows. It's only when I try to save over an existing file that I get the error message. Oh, and the circuit design and simulations parts of my CAD program never raise any objection when I overwrite existing files. It's only the PCB design section that makes a half-hearted protest (it saves anyway).

I've just connected a 2.5-inch HDD via a SATA-to-USB adapter as a test. The drive was in my son's Windows 8.1 laptop until very recently and has never been connected to my computer before. I edited some Word files in it and saved them without any problem.