Forcing file delete - Even when Trusted Installer owns the file.

[David Clarke]

Anyone know how to force a file delete - Even when Trusted Installer owns the file?

And in general - way to programatically change permissions and ownership.

[Mike Doty]

This might be enough.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...8-870a63d075c8

[David Clarke]

Thanks Mike

I am looking for a way to read and change "security" and "ownership" from inside a PB program. I'm sure there is some WIN API, I just need to find it.

[David Clarke]

I imagine it is in here someplace:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...-access-rights
or
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...-access-rights

I'll go read what MS says...

[Stuart McLachlan]

You could start here:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...-access-rights

Note this part:
In most cases, the ability to read and write the security settings of a file or directory object is restricted to kernel-mode processes. Clearly, you would not want any user process to be able to change the ownership or access restriction on your private file or directory.

[David Clarke]

Thanks Stuart, I will look at that.

i'm working on a tool to eliminate duplicate image files. Some of the images are on backup drives from years ago. Some of them are owned by the trusted installer.

[George Bleck]

If you are running under an admin context then one easy way is to shell out and use ICACLS.exe

Being pedantic but as a reminder, your program MUST run under the context of a user with elevated admin rights to even attempt it, otherwise it will fail.

Every so often, you will not be able to change the permissions / delete a file even as the admin. You might then need to use psexec to elevate your context to System account. (p.s. there are other ways outside of using psexec --- i.e., using AT)


psexec -i -s yourprog.exe

[Dale Yarker]

last resort
copy what you want to keep, then format

[David Clarke]

Thanks for the ideas guys!

I have ZILLIONS of old files. Copies of copies of copies.... Many are copies of entire disks OS and all. I am trying to only keep the "good" stuff. Have a nice md5 duplicate file flager so far..

[Stuart McLachlan]

Thanks for the ideas guys!
I have ZILLIONS of old files. Copies of copies of copies.... Many are copies of entire disks OS and all..

I know the feeling
Everytime I've replace a laptop or desktop with still viable drive(s). I copy all of the working directories to the new machine but keep the drives and connect them with a USB caddy if I was to go back to them. So I've got several generations of MyDocuments, MyPIcitures, my "dev" directory trees etc. I really should clean then up and make a couple of TB of disk space avaiable for other things.