permission to delete files

This is why I hate Windows Vista/7. Too protective. I went back to Windows XP Prof, SP2, and I'm happy again.

It's a good idea having a 2nd drive on a system. It speeds up jobs like movie conversions etc.

Sadly MS dropped Winfile a few versions back. I still use the old NT 32 bit version. It does have access from the menu to permissions, but I'm not sure if it will work without the tweaks mentioned in the ReadMe Guide in the link below. It doesn't interfere with anything if you install it and even with a few menu items not working it's better than Explorer and the Free included FM Stepup is very good.


=======================================================================
Microsoft File Manager (FM) 32-bit WINFILE.EXE 4.0.1381.318 + FM Add-ons for
Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008/7


This ReadMe Guide (MUST read!):
http://www.mdgx.com/files/fmnt32.php

This ReadMe Guide in plain text (ASCII) format:
http://www.mdgx.com/files/FMNT32.TXT

Download FMNT32.EXE [1.2 MB, English]:
http://www.mdgx.com/files/FMNT32.EXE
========================================================

To install download and run FMNT32.EXE

The link below tells you ho to Disable User Account Control (UAC) in Windows 7


http://www.petri.co.il/disable-uac-in-windows-7.htm

disabling UAC should never be necessary: if you "need" to, you're doing something wrong.
Even Admin passwords don't work on NTFS drives if you've been working with an installer - installers get higher privileges, so disabling UAC will essentially *never* help. In this case, it's an ACL issue and the SIDs are different, so formatting is the right way to go.

Bret

another point that occurred to me after writing this: ACLs and UAC are seperate. Disabling UAC will not help; the only way to go is "take ownership", either with cacls on the command line or via explorer. of course, at that point you'll break the present permission set...

Bret

This machine was built for me as a media centre some five years ago, hence under windows viata.
I have now redeemed this machine for use as a photographic processing centre. I have had one drive re formatted and windows 7 put on it.
There are residual files for windows vista on the 'D' drive.
The drive is big enough for these files to remain there...but..I am not happy that I cannot remove them. all the other files that were on this drive did not present a problem. I guess it is windows vista that has protected them.
The final solution will be to remove the drive and reformat it with a specialist programme.
regards thoramay

I've given you plenty of tips that should help you with your dilemma, but I thought of one more.

Go through the process of installing Windows 7 (or any Windows OS for that matter). All you need is an original installation CD, you don't even need a Product ID.

During the install process, but before any real damage is done, you will be asked where you want to install the OS. You should be given the opportunity to install it on either of your two drives. You will also be given the opportunity to delete any pre-existing partitions.

You can use this to delete the Vista partition and all the data it contains.

Do that, then stop the install process. Then reboot the machine as normal.

Once booted into Win7, you will then use Disk Manager to create a new partition, format it, and go from there.

Don't give up, we will not be beaten.

If you are not confident doing this, but are confident enough to install TightVNC on your machine, I can probably sort it out remotely. I will not be able to perform the procedure I describe here though, it needs to be done at the machine.

PM me if you need me to help, FOC.

This should help.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810881

Peter. I have just been into user account but could not find any reference to turn user account on or off.
What I have now discovered is that the machine is pass word protected and keeps asking me to type this in to change the account user on the drive.
Getting well out of my depth here.
Cannot find where the partitioning details are. Can I ask a stupid question. Why would two drives need to be partitioned? Cannot they operate as seperate entities.
What affect will it have if I remove the 'd' drive.
Can you explain why the properties and windows files are on the 'd' drive when I would imagine that the operating system would have been placed on the 'c' drive.
regards thoramay.

Right click my computer, click manage then click disk management.
This will display all physical disks and all partitions and the status of each partition.
The physical disks will be disk 0 disk 1 disk 2 etc
The volumes (partitions) on each physical disk will have drive letters assigned c: d: e: etc.
You need to be sure that you can safely remove/delete/reformat the disk/ partition you wish to before proceeding.

I would take up Mannesty's offer and install tight VNC and let him have a look remotely.
http://www.tightvnc.com/

Hope this helps

If the PC was made up specially for you, perhaps it would be safer to go back to that person to solve the problem?

The two drives do operate as separate entities.

A new 'virgin' drive contains no usable data. For it to be used by any operating system (Windows. MacOS, Linux, Unix etc.) a drive is partitioned to form a boundary for the eventual file system. A drive can have a partition that includes all available writeable space, or multiple partitions to divide the drive into a number of smaller boundaries.

Each partition can then be formatted with any file system of your choosing (NTFS, FAT16, FAT32, EXT3, etc.)

In the case where a machine has only one physical drive, it can be partitioned to have at least one partition. Typically, large modern drives are divided into several partitions. One for the operating system, usually drive C:, another for data, usually drive D: (or E: if a CD/DVD drive has already been assigned the drive letter D, and so on. These partitions are also referred to as logical drives, or volumes, so one physical drive can be divided into several logical drives/volumes.

Where a PC has two physical drives, and each is partitioned as one logical drive, they become drives C: and D: (or E: for reasons as above).

PC's and laptops usually start life with one physical drive. When the time comes to upgrade the hard disk and/or operating system, it is common practice to add a new drive and load it with the new operating system and for it to have the drive letter C:. The old drive, which was drive C: then becomes drive D: (or E: for reasons as above). This leaves all of the original operating system (which is now non-functioning) and data on the old drive.

The problem now is that the new operating system is installed with new security identifiers which don't match those used for the old drive, hence you get a user access problem.

It is normal for a machine that has undergone this type of upgrade, for the owner to copy or move any data that is still required from the old disk (now drive D to the new disk (now drive C, then at some stage, reformat it.

WARNING:- Performing the following procedure on a system that has been installed in a non-standard configuration could render you system inoperable. Only proceed if you understand what is happening and how your system has been installed.

To remove a logical drive (partition), it is normally only necessary to open Windows Explorer, right click 'My Computer' > Manage > Disk Management (you might have to expand the 'Storage' entry to see the Disk Management option), determine which logical drive you want to remove, right click it and hit 'Delete Volume'.

Once this is done on a drive that has one partition encompassing the entire drive capacity you are back to having a 'virgin' drive and you will see 'Unpartitioned' space for that physical drive in Disk Management.

You then right click that unpartitioned space and select Create Volume (from memory, terminology might be slightly different as it's a long time since I've actually done it) and define the size of that volume (partition). The default that appears is the entire drive. during this volume creation process you are also given the option to format it at the same time, give it a name, and choose which file system you want (you need NTFS). When the format is complete, it is usable by Windows.

That should certainly resolve the issue.

If not, I can only think that the user account that you have been given to use does not have administrative capabilities and you should contact the system builder to have it changed.

Do you live anywhere close to High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire? If so, my son can sort it for you.

As an alternative to installing TightVNC for remote assistance, you could use the 'Request remote assistance' option in Windows Live messenger if you have that installed.

The business that built this machine no longer exists. hence my need to seek alternative support.
My competence in using computers is to access the internet, our forum, basic wordprocessing and basic photo manipulation.
I have discovered that the password was 'password' and that my machine is no longer under a protected mode.
It still does not solve my problem.
I have followed all the advice to the best of my ability, which is not much. I am just afraid that I will compound the problem.
Time to call in a local expert, I think. Had just hoped that there was a simple solution. Obviously not.
I am not competent to install ANY programmes, Sorry Peter. I am just grateful for all your attempts to help me.
regards thoramay.

If you can't install tightVNC for Peter to have a look exactly what's on the 2nd HDD you are probably better taking it to someone local or getting a mobile tech to call round.

If there's nothing other than the old Vista on the 2nd HDD the drive manufacture will have a downloadable Boot Disk that will restore the HDD back to EX Factory condition within minutes, ready for re-formatting. The local tech. will also be able to do this after checking that no Windows 7 files are on the 2nd HDD. It's possible that the (My) Documents folder on the 2nd HDD is in use by Win 7?

Thanks for the comeback, algi. All the files on the 'd' drive are dated 2007, so I think it is ok to presume that they are Vista files.
The drives are Western Digital. I have been on their site. Will check again for that boot disk.
regards Thoramay.