Current Events > How to delete a file from an external hard drive using Windows 11?

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My face when I would rather be in Hell. :)

I've spent hours and can't seem to find a way on having any control over my external hard drives.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/2/9/AAI-dfAADs2R.png

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/1/3/0/AAI-dfAADs2S.png
I'm using a "Gaming PC (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, Windows 11 Pro N, AMD Ryzen 5 2600)".

Not sure what any of that means, but it's a fresh install.

I had to create a PIN number when logging in, even though I live alone and it seemed completely unnecessary.

I don't understand why I'm locked out of my USB hard drives for extra storage.

I can't share them with myself and not able to delete anything.

Any help?

Please and thank you kindly in advance. :D

You install Windows 7, the last good OS Microshaft ever made. Then you can do with your OS what you like with no bullshit arbitrary restrictions.

Do you still have the PC that the external HDD originally used to create those files?

Are your drives encrypted or did you set permissions on them to only be accessible by a specific user account?

The long string is a Windows SID for a user account that probably doesn't exist if you just did a fresh install.

Solar_Crimson posted...

Do you still have the PC that the external HDD originally used to create those files?

Yes.

BuzzKilljoy posted...

Are your drives encrypted or did you set permissions on them to only be accessible by a specific user account?

The long string is a Windows SID for a user account that probably doesn't exist if you just did a fresh install.

No encryption.

They were done with normal "create new folder" for anything that was added on them.

I did have those to be share though to be used as a Plex media server on the old PC.

Right click, properties, security, advanced, take ownership?

Jupiter posted...

Right click, properties, security, advanced, take ownership?

I was about to suggest this. Sometimes the ownership gets wonky and blocks you from accessing the drive when using external drives on different computers.

That S-1 long string is probably the SID for the user account on your old computer which currently is the "owner" of that external drive.

Finally got it. :)

A simple two minute video was all that was needed.

https://youtu.be/Gum6hbPqb0g

Since I don't even know what my username is on my PC, I just changed the permissions for Everyone.

Can't believe this took me all of 3.5 hours to figure out.

I am too stupid to live.

Is this a new computer with W11 installed or one you upgraded to? Because if it's the latter and it just changes your settings that's BS.

Steffenfield posted...

Finally got it. :)

A simple two minute video was all that was needed.

https://youtu.be/Gum6hbPqb0g

Since I don't even know what my username is on my PC, I just changed the permissions for Everyone.

Can't believe this took me all of 3.5 hours to figure out.

I am too stupid to live.

Yeah that's what Jupiter and I mentioned yesterday. It's a simple fix but if you aren't in IT or anything, you probably aren't used to modifying permissions like that.

Also the Everyone group can be very dangerous since it makes things 100% wide open. Absolutely no security on that drive that would prevent hackers from accessing it. I'd suggest going to C:\Users and look for the folder with your username(it's probably just your name) and replace the Everyone with your account.

CaptainStrong posted...

You install Windows 7, the last good OS Microshaft ever made. Then you can do with your OS what you like with no bullshit arbitrary restrictions.

This is what the tech illiterates say

BlazinBlue88 posted...

Yeah that's what Jupiter and I mentioned yesterday. It's a simple fix but if you aren't in IT or anything, you probably aren't used to modifying permissions like that.

Also the Everyone group can be very dangerous since it makes things 100% wide open. Absolutely no security on that drive that would prevent hackers from accessing it. I'd suggest going to C:\Users and look for the folder with your username(it's probably just your name) and replace the Everyone with your account.

Okay.

Thanks. I'll try and get that done.

I tried all of the simple and alternative methods, but for some reason they wouldn't fully take.

For the most part it was fine, but I'd get pop up errors on certain folders such as Films, Recycle Bin and System Information.

I think it was because I had these drives being shared on my old computer.

Honestly I might need to do an entire fresh reinstall with all of the garbage suggestions I tried to do from reading online.

I went far too deep down the rabbit hole on this.