Solved Security Tab Missing from External Drive's Properties

[digitalhoodlum]

Something utterly strange and annoying has happened to my external 2TB hard drive. All of a sudden, I can see the drive in 'My Computer' but have no permissions to access it in Explorer.

Additionally, when i try to right-click and take ownership, that's not an option. And when i do open the properties for the drive, there is no Security tab where I can change owners/permissions.

The odd thing about it -- as if that weren't enough -- is that I can still access (view) the files on that drive if I do it through an application (like VLC) that has already a 'recently played' list, etc.

I have also run chkdsk and it reports no errors.

HELP, PLEASE!

 

[Lottiemansion]

Hi,

Carry out a complete virus & malware check with your software or download & use Malwarebyte: -

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Reviews and free Malwarebytes Anti-Malware downloads at CNET Downloads

Try to un-install it in device manager & then reconnect it.

 

[digitalhoodlum]

Thanks for the advice. I did as you suggested to no avail. No malware found. I also removed the drive via device manager and restarted the computer. Vista quickly re-installed the device.

For all I can tell, any application that already references a specific path on that drive can still access it ... but I cannot. Access Denied.

I even tried to create a new Admin acct on the system, but that did not change anything either.

Another strange thing is that it works on my Powerbook (G4)! I just installed the NTFS extension that came with the drive and can access all of the files easily.

The other thing i tried was posted here: in this forum. it made it through most of the files then said "The data area passed to a system call is too small."

Any other advice would be very helpful. Again, thanks for your time.

 

[Lottiemansion]

Hi,

The issue seems be related to drivers or bios.

The fact that you have been able to use the drive previously?

Did you install it & format the drive on your system?

formating issues with a WD 2tb drive can't format past - Microsoft Answers

Have you updated the chipset drivers for your system from Windows update?

Large drive info for 2TB & above drives found here: -

Large Capacity Drives

 

[digitalhoodlum]

Yes the drive has always been used with my computer. This just started happening. I will check out the driver link you gave... But I'm pretty sure my bios is up to date. Will let you know.

 

[derekimo]

This might be of interest,

Security Tab - Add or Remove from Properties - Windows 7 Forums

Works on Vista too.

 

[digitalhoodlum]

Thank you all for your advice. Last night I had a eureka moment -- or rather a fresh mind -- when I tried the icacls command again -- this time only hitting the top level directories of the drive and granted full permissions to 'everyone'. The drive immediately started behaving like it should.

It looks like a previous alteration on the permissions was cut short with an error and the mixed bag of conflicting permissions caused Vista to go with the more restrictive of them all.

Again, thank you!

 

[derekimo]

Thank you all for your advice. Last night I had a eureka moment -- or rather a fresh mind -- when I tried the icacls command again -- this time only hitting the top level directories of the drive and granted full permissions to 'everyone'. The drive immediately started behaving like it should.

It looks like a previous alteration on the permissions was cut short with an error and the mixed bag of conflicting permissions caused Vista to go with the more restrictive of them all.

Again, thank you!

Glad to hear you got it sorted out, Thanks for posting back!