Some files have transformed a 'green' color, others are the normal 'black' - access denied to 'green' files

Some files on my external hard drive (MS office files) are suddenly inaccessible - I get an 'access denied' and the files are "green." Not all the files have changed. I have not changed all permissions. I have home access to the full administrator on this laptop.

I use Windows Vista Home premium.

Can someone help me with this please.

I've never heard of a file becoming green before - it may be a security program or another program third-party (I don't think it's Vista).  The best thing to do is to check and change the permissions and if necessary take possession of the files/folders.  Do you have a third-party suite (or anti-virus program) security or firewall program (if so, what name and which version)?  Here is an example of a program that causes the problem to deny access AND lights up green files: http://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/how-to-encrypt-your-computers-hard-disk-data-and-files-for-free/.

To view your permissions, right-click on the file/folder, click Properties, and check the Security tab.  Check the permissions you have by clicking on your user name (or group of users).  Here are the types of permissions, you may have: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/What-are-permissions.  You must be an administrator or owner to change the permissions (and sometimes, being an administrator or even an owner is not sufficient - there are ways to block access (even if a smart administrator knows these ways and can move them - but usually should not because they did not have access, usually for a very good reason).)  Here's how to change the permissions of folder under Vista: http://www.online-tech-tips.com/windows-vista/set-file-folder-permissions-vista/.
 
To resolve this problem with folders, appropriating the files or the drive (as an administrator) and give you all the rights.  Right-click on the folder/drive, click Properties, click the Security tab and click on advanced and then click the owner tab.  Click on edit, and then click the name of the person you want to give to the property (you may need to add if it is not there--or maybe yourself). If you want that it applies to subfolders and files in this folder/drive, then check the box to replace the owner of subcontainers and objects, and click OK.  Back and now there is a new owner for files and folders/player who can change the required permissions.  You can change now switched to read-only (even if the main folder indicates that they are always read-only - you can access yourself as the owner).  You can keep them in read-only to other users, customers and administrators even (although they can support themselves and access, if they wish, and it is really not that you can do to stop it except protect the file with a password by using a 3rd party product.)  Here is more information on the ownership of a file or a folder: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html.

Good luck and I hope this helps!

Lorien - a - MCSE/MCSA/network + / A +.

Tags: Windows

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