OMG, where did C:\ go? Help

[flycaster]

I'm certain that I screwed up and somehow denied myself access to everything under the C:\ root. C:\ and all its files fails to show up when I go to computer. Actually, I'm fairly certain that I did this to myself when, due to my great lack of understanding on how to manipulate permissions, I messed things up while trying to give myself permission to do something with my shortcut to computer. I naively fooled around with properties>security.

Since I've transferred from xp to vista about 3 weeks ago, I have failed to understand how to manipulate permissions, even though I have read many, many help postings and other helpful guides. So, I would very much appreciate instructions on how to at least get my C root back. Right now this is the denial messge when I click on the computer shortcut:

Location is not available
C:\is not accessable.
Access is denied

BTW, I did a system restore and it didn't help.

 

[mansrm81]

Try this for the drive.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html

 

[flycaster]

Thanks for the heads upp, but I have already reviewed that material. And, unfortunately attesting to my ignorance, I can't make heads or tails of it. Well, that really isn't entirely true, but it was my lack of understanding of this stuff that got me into trouble in the first place. I don't even know how I log on as an administrator. As far as I can recall, I am the administrator and the user with full permissions...but I'm not sure. Although I can do a bit a computer application tweaking (like with Maxthon and Thunderbird), this permissions/ownership stuff has got me down.

 

[mansrm81]

See if you can access the drive with the built in admin account.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67567-administrator-account.html

 

[flycaster]

Bad hair day for me, I can't even get to edit the post above. When I select Edit all I get was reply filed that I couldn't enter text into. So, I'm jsut adding my edit here. Although, I could enter into the "reason for editing" field. Anyway, what I wanted to add was that I feel I need a a flow chart of some sort. Nothing elaborate, but something that would point me to the steps within the suggested link.

 

[flycaster]

See if you can access the drive with the built in admin account.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67567-administrator-account.html

Thanks again for the guidance. But as it is getting late and I don't want to start doing this stuff after a very hard day, I'll try your suggestions and tutorials tomorrow with a fresh mind. And, hopefully I'll get to see the light.

 

[mansrm81]

These are the permissions that should let you in your drive.

 

[flycaster]

I was just about to close down when you came through with the above. I know how to do that stuff, but when I select the shortcut for computer and then security, I get the following messge: "The name c:\ specified in the target box is not valid. Make sure the path and filename are correct." And obviously so in that the target field only has c:\ and no path. My mucking about erased the c:\ pathway, eh? I naively fear that even if I put it in (BTW, I don't know the pathway), I still may be in trouble. Got shut down now, pick this up tomorrow.

 

[flycaster]

Went to my computer shortcut icon, properties>security and tried to reset as suggested; however, got the following message preventing me form making the change: "Name 'C:\' specified in the target box is not valid, make sure path and files are correct"

 

[Mr GRiM]

Have you tried using a system restore, go back to a time before you started playing with it and you should be good again.

 

[flycaster]

OK, guys, problem finall solved. Luckily, got hold of a computer fixer-upper, and gave him control of my computer over the net. Took him about 2 hours to resolve the problem. Obviously, it was a tough one. After having tried several methods to get full control as an administrator, to no avail, he settled on setting up a new account with full administrative control. Hell, man, I was really sweating it out as try after try only lead to failure, until the final solution. I'll tell you this, if I was ever able to figure out the muddling maze of permissions and gave it a try myself, I would have fully crashed the computer, or blown my brains out.

After he finally set up the new account, he started to show me how to transfer data from the "corrupted" account into the new account, as he suggested that it would be best to do this and then remove the latter. However, I had to cut the session short at this point, and now I am on my own with the transfer. As he has spent over two hours with nme and didn't charge, I feel a little funny about going back to him to finish up his transfer tutorial, so I'm going to have to ask you guys to give me some help here. I think I understand the basics of it, but I'm not really confident enough to start out on my own with some help. Do you think I should start a new post, or should we continue using this thread?

 

[flycaster]

Edit function doesn't seem to be working, this this new post. My old account seems to be working fine, for now. So, instead of moving files around to my new account, I think I'll just leave things as they are.