Permission error when accessing user directories

[JohnnyJet]

I am trying to free up some space on a Windows 2008 R2 server, to do this I need to access all user directories, I can access most user directories but when I try to access some of them I get the error message, "You don't currently have permission to access this folder. Click continue to permanently get access to this folder.". I am logged on as an administrator on the server.

 

This tends to happen on the occasional My Pictures file, but sometimes also occurs on the entire users directory. Because of this the data used by a user is not being reported correctly as it is missing the restricted folders off the directory size calculations.

 

Firstly why is this happening? Is there a way to bulk assign rights without affecting the users access rights?

 

I can go into the individual users directory and change the ownership one at a time but this will just take far too long and I am worried that the user will no longer have rights once I change the ownership.

 

Any help will be gratefully appreciated, thanks.

[Patrick]

InstallTakeOwnership.zip This little explorer addon will add a right click option to take ownership of any selected folder and sub folder, worth a try? Could speed things up for you. I use it when needing to get into some accounts that give me the same message. Edited January 12, 2017 by Patrick

[JohnnyJet]

Thanks, will give it a go.

 

Not sure why a few of them don't allow me access making the directory sizes wrong.

[3s-gtech]

Group Policy - User Configuration / Policies / Windows Settings / Folder Redirection / Pictures / Settings tab - Grant the user exclusive access right to x

 

This stupid tickbox used to cause me no end of grief, especially as it would set by default. If yours isn't set now, it may have been set when these users first logged on.