No files for you!

September 5, 2007 8:30 AM

Copying files from one folder to another in XP Home SP2, fairly routine, right? Well, when I try to open the subfolders or access the files, "access is denied."

I've gone through the many pages of similar problems, but they all seem to be related to copying from one drive to another or over a network. This is just my plain old PC, copying files from My Documents to a new desktop folder for backing up purposes. I am the only user and thus the admin, and the files are not encrypted or read-only. The files are mostly mp3s and pictures, with some Word docs and PDFs (mp3s won't play, no preview for images). I'm fairly savvy in these weird MS glitches but since this isn't a shared resource or a different drive, I'm stumpified. Thanks as always in advance.

posted by moonbird to Computers & Internet (9 answers total)

The only possibility I can think of (which used to occur to me):

Are the folder/file names (including path) rather long (e.g., over 255 characters?) I used to have an insolvable problem with deleting such files (though I forget if I was also unable to even open them). The solution was to rename the folder/file to something far shorter, then do what I want with them.
posted by astrochimp at 8:44 AM on September 5, 2007

Response by poster: interesting thought, but the folder name is just 11 characters. maybe i'll try renaming it, just in case?
posted by moonbird at 8:48 AM on September 5, 2007

have you tried accessing the files in something like knoppix? seems like it would be a good way to rule out if this truly a windows issue or just quirky behavior caused by a failing hard drive.
posted by phil at 9:45 AM on September 5, 2007

i hit post too soon. if it turns out to be a windows issue i have found this tool to be a great help when dealing with permissions issues.
posted by phil at 9:49 AM on September 5, 2007

Best answer: Reboot. If that doesnt clear it google on how to 'take ownership' of a file/folder in XP. You may be admin, but you may not be owner. The system may also be locking these files (antivirus related usually).
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:53 AM on September 5, 2007

Also you can try in safe mode too.
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:53 AM on September 5, 2007

Most typically some application has a lock on one of the files or folders in question. My procedure in such cases is:

1) Reboot, usually clears it.
2) Safe mode, where I also look for misbehaving programs to delete
3) Time for the serious anti-virus / malware scan.
posted by TeatimeGrommit at 10:38 AM on September 5, 2007

Response by poster: thanks everyone... i'll try all these out when i get home and report back (alas, new house, no net yet).
posted by moonbird at 11:02 AM on September 5, 2007

Response by poster: hey, to follow up taking ownership of the folder and all the files therein cleared it up... it took a few tries going into safe mode but everything is there and just dandy.
thanks everyone!
posted by moonbird at 7:00 AM on September 6, 2007