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View Full Version : Drive formating, and unwanted NTFS security settings


Son Goku
12-06-05, 11:28 PM
OK, to get the virtual PCs off the classroom computers, so I could continue the labs, I had gotten a 100 GB USB hard drive, and formatted it down in the classroom prior to copying the files. A quick listing beliw will show why something was needed beyond normal methods for portable storage...

E:\VirtualPCs\cis245>dir
Volume in drive E is extern
Volume Serial Number is E69A-37C9

Directory of E:\VirtualPCs\cis245

12/06/2005 08:44 PM <DIR> .
12/06/2005 08:44 PM <DIR> ..
12/06/2005 08:44 PM 1,017,388,032 70_294_Computer01_Labs1&2.vhd
12/06/2005 08:44 PM 12,080 70_294_Computer01_Labs1&2.vmc
12/06/2005 08:39 PM 998,509,056 70_294_Computer02_Labs1&2.vhd
12/06/2005 08:39 PM 12,082 70_294_Computer02_Labs1&2.vmc
03/16/2004 02:48 PM 1,164,222,464 Base04A.vhd
5 File(s) 3,180,143,714 bytes
2 Dir(s) 93,825,427,456 bytes free

E:\VirtualPCs\cis245>

These installs are running Windows 2003 Server, as the class (one in Active Directory) requires... We also need a second copy of this (as from lab 8 on, we're making changes that could interfere with latter labs, so need a backup from the changes made in lab 7, which include the starting point each lab must begin from).

Anyhow, having the drive, I formatted it on their system using NTFS, and well it picked up some rather unwanted security settings which it had applied from the root of my drive on. I guess if worse comes to worse, I could wait until after the labs are done then format the drive again. That said, formatting a 100 GB hard drive felt rather painful time wise :D It didn't help that their old PCs I had to pull the file on only supported USB 1.1 however (the drive supports up to USB 2.0, as does my new Athlon 64, and the computers in the networking lab as well...)

However, when, after having copied the stuff I needed to continue the labs I went to the networking lab, I couldn't copy, move, or do anything to the files. One of the peeps over at the networking lab logged into their PC with their administrator's account and gave me full control to the VirtualPCs directory, which allowed me to continue...

However she also said that there were also all kinds of split profiles, and she doesn't have any idea what they do over at the other dept that class is taught in, as she never was called over to do anything on their systems as of yet. She suggested that on Thursday, she could try to find a means to undo whatever security might have found it's way over to my drive, but no gaurentee... What was on there, looked totally weird (in terms of security stuff they were dumping on people's drives that linked up to their systems and what not) and didn't seem all that necessary at first glance...

On the computers in the networking lab, I couldn't even create a file on the root of the drive, to contain the results to the lab work being done (which would serve as the lab report to be turned in for each one...) I could in the directory I was given access too...

OK, so I come home, and on my XP Pro box here, and with my own Administrator's tab, I can't even see a security tab for it, let along whatever I'd need to clear these unwanted settings off my drive/files. Umm, where does it put this stuff, and how does one get to it? Is it even feasible to do so, or would a format of the new drive (once done with the lab work) be the only feasible option?

TierMann
12-07-05, 01:31 AM
What I do with my storage drive (since I still havn't located the security settings for files or folders in XP 64-bit) is just use cygwin and "chmod -R 777 <folder>". That works for me when it decides to lock me out of my own stored files after a fresh install. If you don't have cygwin you can install just the default which shouldn't take too long and that should give you the one app needed.

I'm sure someone here knows where the windows settings are hidden though.

Edit:
I figured it out. Control panel -> Folder Options -> View tab -> uncheck "Use simple file sharing".
That will give you the security tab for folder and drive properties. You can change the owner from there and just give everyone access to read/write etc. That way it should work at home or at school.

The other method with cygwin will just open it up to all users without changing the owner which should work just as well since you're using it on different systems anyway.

rewt
12-07-05, 11:41 PM
That said, formatting a 100 GB hard drive felt rather painful time wise :D

You're talking about having to copying the data over again right? Because formatting would be quick and painless if you use the NTFS Quick Format option. About 10 seconds if that...

I personally never use Full format anymore. Its only other function is to check the disk/partition for bad sectors. That is what makes Full format so time consuming.