Context Menu - Take Ownership

How to Add Take Ownership to the Context Menu in Vista​

   Information

This will add Take Ownership to the Context (right click) menu for all folders, files, and drives in Vista and Windows 7.

Application files, (EX: EXE, CMD, MSI) will still have Run as administrator instead of Take Ownership in the context menu.

When you use take ownership on a folder, it will take ownership of all the files and subfolders inside the folder to.

   Tip

• To manually take ownership of items in Vista, see: How to Take Ownership of a Item in Vista
• To restore TrustedInstaller as the owner for a protected system resource, see: How to Restore TrustedInstaller as Owner of a File in Vista

   Warning

This Take Ownership context menu item needs to be used while logged on to an administrator account for it work.

EXAMPLE: Before and After Context Menus

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STEP ONE

Add or Remove Take Ownership

1. To Add Take Ownership​

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A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.​

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Add_Take_Ownership.reg​

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B) Go to step 3.​

2. To Remove Take Ownership​

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A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.​

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Remove_Take_Ownership.reg​

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3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.​

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4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.​

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5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC-Vista) or Yes (UAC-Windows 7), Yes, and OK when prompted.​

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6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

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   Tip

After you have taking ownership of the file, you may still need to "Allow" your user account "Full Control" of the file before you will have full permission to access it. See steps 11 to 22 in the tutorial below for how.

   Tip

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Take Ownership of file - Vista Forums​

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STEP TWO

How to Use Take Ownership

1. Right click on a folder, file, or drive.​

NOTE: When you use Take Ownership on a folder, it will take ownership of all the files and subfolders within that folder to.​

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   Warning

Do not take ownership of the drive that you have Windows installed on. If you do, you will end up having to reinstall Windows.

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2. Click on Take Ownership. (See Example at top)​

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3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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4. You will see a command window pop-up and then go away when it's finished. (See example screenshot below)​

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5. The folder or file has been taken ownership of.​

NOTE:​

A) You can verify from METHOD TWO step 7 here: How to Take Ownership of a Item in Vista​

B) It will have your user name listed as the owner.​

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   Tip

After you have taking ownership of the file, you may still need to "Allow" your user account "Full Control" of the file before you will have full permission to access it. See steps 11 to 22 in the tutorial below for how.

   Tip

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Take Ownership of file - Vista Forums​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Expand the Context (Shortcuts) Menu in Vista
• How to Customize the Context Menu for the Start Menu in Vista
• How to Customize the Send To Context Menu in Vista
• How to Customize the Recycle Bin Context Menu in Vista
• How to Add Encrypt and Decrypt to the Context Menu in Vista
• How to Add and Remove a New Menu Item in Vista
• How to Add COPY TO FOLDER and MOVE TO FOLDER to the Context Menu in Vista
• How to Take Ownership of a Item in Vista
• How to Restore the Search Context Menu Item after Installing the Vista SP1
• How to Add Flip 3D to the Context Menu in Vista
• How to Restore or Remove New from the Context Menu in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable the Context Menu in Vista
• How to Restore or Remove the Security Tab in Vista
• How to Remove or Show Drives in the Vista and Windows 7 "Send To" Context Menu
• How to Add View and Print File Directory to the Context Menu in Vista
• How to Add or Remove Copy as Path from the Vista Context Menu
• How to Add or Remove Send To from the Vista Context Menu
• How to Add or Remove Turn Aero On or Off from the Vista Context Menu
• How to Add System Properties to Computer Context Menu in Vista
• How to Restore TrustedInstaller as Owner of a File in Vista
• How to Restore or Remove "Restore Previous Versions" from the Vista Context Menu
• How to Add Empty Folder and Subfolders to the Vista Context Menu

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Bartholomew. I'm happy to hear that you got it replaced now.

 

[PainlessTorture]

I'm impressed!

Nice job Brink

 

[Brink]

Thank you FMJC001.

 

[PainlessTorture]

Thank you FMJC001.

I'm serious, you're incredible

You continue to impress me

 

[rapplewhite]

This is my first visit to the forum, and just wanted to say thanks for this one!! The context menu solution worked wonderfully!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome RappleWhite, and welcome to Vista Forums.

 

[XT600e]

I just registered to say thank you...frustration to elation in record time!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome XT600e, and welcome to Vista Forums.

 

[tlxxxsracer]

Brink: I like the tutorial you made, its easy to follow. Im still having problems getting permissions for my system32 folder. I run vista 32bit. I ran the takeownership.reg file.
I followed the tutorial. But when i check to see if i have permission, it doesnt show my user or the administrator has permissions. Im trying to change the back and forward button (file browseui.dll). Im not sure how to fix this..

Thanks in advance

 

[Brink]

Hello tlxxxsracer, and welcome to Vista Forums.

After you take ownership of the file, you will also need to "Allow" your user account "Full Control" as well for permissions. You will need to use Option Two (steps 11 on) in METHOD TWO in the tutorial below afterwards to apply permission.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/133754-task-manager-users-log-off-local-user.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[bilal]

Hi,
I recently installed take ownership script...i am not sure if from here or somewhere else...but the thing is i don't have the 'run as administrator' option anymore when i right click any file just the take ownership and so for programs which require the 'run as administrator' i have to manually go into its properties and select the option for 'run as administrator' before i can run that file...this is very annoying as i like to try at new softwares and so every time i have to do that...is there a way i can get the run as administrator option back???

 

[Brink]

Hello Bilal, and welcome to Vista Forums.

If you still have the script, can you upload (paperclip icon) it in a ZIP. I'll take a look at it to see what changes it made, and will hopefully post back a solution for you.

 

[bilal]

hi,
thanks...but i don't have the script...can't i look in the registry for a specific word and post the locations here (like take ownership etc)...or what else can i do???

 

[Brink]

Ok Bilal,

I have it isolated now. Merging the .reg file below should restore "Run as administrator" to the context menu for application files.

Not sure where you got that script from, but after you restore this you can use the one in this tutorial instead to have both Take ownership and Run as administrator available at the same time.

UPDATED to latest .reg file that works.

 

[bilal]

thanks that works but instead of 'run as administrator' it says 'take ownership' instead...but after clicking on it and does the same thing as run as administrator...is there anyway i can change that?

 

[Brink]

Ok, I have updated the reg file below. Please download and merge that one again. It should restore the name now as well.

 

[bilal]

can't see it...have you put it on???

 

[Brink]

It's from the same .reg file download in a few posts above. It's been updated.

 

[bilal]

yh i tried that just now but still the 'take ownership' text is there

 

[Brink]

Ok. So much for the usual way. We'll see if we can't find this entry for you.

• In regedit, click on Edit (menu bar) and Find.
• Type in Take Ownership.
• uncheck Match whole string only box.
• Click on Find Next.
• Take a screenshot of regedit it and post it here with the Take Ownership entry in it.
• Click on Find Next again and repeat the screenshots until you get a finished message that you have to click on OK in.