Solved Removed permission for system to use a folder and now it won't boot up.

kenwood · Jun 26, 2023

I bought a new Acer PC with win 11. It kept putting downloads into the wrong folder. As a last resort I removed permission for the system to use that folder, and now I can't get into the compurer.

glasskuter · Jun 26, 2023

Messing with system permissions is a no-no unless one understands what you should change and what you shouldn't and knows the repercussions of doing it.
I suggest you do a reset. Hold down shift key, keep held down through boot. It should take you to recovery screen where you can reset the machine.
You can try a reset and keep files, but IMO it may well take a reset and remove everything and start completely over to get it straightened out (depending on exactly what folders you changed.)

kenwood · Jun 26, 2023

Hi glasskuter: I tried our suggestion and I got to a recovery screen, but it says it can't because my PC is broken

an old win 7 boot disk and was given the same options and the same answer. What do you think?

glasskuter · Jun 26, 2023

kenwood said:
it says it can't because my PC is broken

Exactly what message did it give you? I have never seen a computer uses the word broken. Also, exactly what folder did you change permissions on?

johnlgalt · Jun 27, 2023

Start from the beginning. There is a lot of missing information here. For example, Windows typically downloads files to the Downloads folder, but if it detects it is a document of some sort, it goes for Documents (though, if you try to download a photo, it usually tries to put it in Documents as well).

There is too much generalization here and absolutely no details, so it is more than impossible to give an answer that will help fix the issue without actually knowing

1. What you wanted to do
2. What you did
3. What is now going on.

To use an analogy, you've just given us as nebulous set of statements as these would be to a mechanic:

"My car doesn't work."

kenwood · Jun 27, 2023

Hi glasskuter: More specifically, boot up goes normally until I put in my pin, and then it starts "getting windows ready" and never gets past that point. One time only when I was holding down the shift key it did go to the next screen but there was a sign telling me that it had not opened my account and to sign out and reboot, which I did and I never got that far again. I think the folder that I removed system permission from was "documents". I removed permission because I had no documents folder in my chain of address but eleven has it's own ideas. The only way I could put things into my own folders was to go back to "users" and click my way up to the folder I want.

garlin · Jun 27, 2023

To me, "Getting Windows Ready..." sounds like your AppData folder is missing, or has no access rights -- so Windows is behaving as if you have a new user account. My suggestion is have one of the experienced folks here lead you through booting off the Recovery environment, and manually poke around.

OAT · Jun 27, 2023

garlin said:
To me, "Getting Windows Ready..." sounds like your AppData folder is missing, or has no access rights -- so Windows is behaving as if you have a new user account. My suggestion is have one of the experienced folks here lead you through booting off the Recovery environment, and manually poke around.

Yes and/or the entire Users folder.

@kenwood
Instead of putting your pin, to the bottom right of the screen, there is a power icon,
Click on that, and select Restart and hold down the shift key.
That will take you to Recovery Mode.
Select Advanced to get to the option to reboot in safe mode command prompt and try to enable Administrator.

Code:

net user administrator /active:yes

Reboot again. Try to get in as Administrator.
That would give us a definite answer.
Please understand that this is a shot in the dark and modifying file access rights &/or user privileges should never be attempted
unless fully understood.
Most likely, a clean install might be your only solution here.

kenwood · Jun 27, 2023

Hi johnlgalt: When I got the computer I established the folder I wanted, after my users name. "Data", in which I established all the folders like downloads, pictures, videos, etc. Eleven also established similar folders but not under my users name. Eleven would not follow my chain of address. In order to put something in my downloads folder I had to go back to "users" and click my way to my downloads folder. If I did not do it that way eleven would put it in it's own downloads folder. I tried deleting eleven's downloads folder but it kept coming back, and eleven kept putting downloads in eleven's folders. Thinking that I should be in control of my computer that I paid for, I was looking for a way to have control like I had with all the other computers I have owned since 1995. So I removed the system's permission to use one of eleven's generated folders, and here we are

I am not absolutely sure which folder I removed permission from, but if I could get back onto my computer I could undo my mistake.

OAT · Jun 27, 2023

kenwood said:
Hi johnlgalt: When I got the computer I established the folder I wanted, after my users name. "Data", in which I established all the folders like downloads, pictures, videos, etc. Eleven also established similar folders but not under my users name. Eleven would not follow my chain of address. In order to put something in my downloads folder I had to go back to "users" and click my way to my downloads folder. If I did not do it that way eleven would put it in it's own downloads folder. I tried deleting eleven's downloads folder but it kept coming back, and eleven kept putting downloads in eleven's folders. Thinking that I should be in control of my computer that I paid for, I was looking for a way to have control like I had with all the other computers I have owned since 1995. So I removed the system's permission to use one of eleven's generated folders, and here we are I am not absolutely sure which folder I removed permission from, but if I could get back onto my computer I could undo my mistake.

By your own account, you did everything the wrong way and sadly you are seeing the outcome.
OSes are merciless and one character omitted or added can render your system unusable.
Please, as you continue your venture into Windows 11, insure yourself by having some kind of backup procedure in place.
This site can offer you a few recommendations for that.

glasskuter · Jun 27, 2023

kenwood said:
getting windows ready

This indicates that an update is applying/attempting to apply. It is recommended one wait several hours to see if the update will apply gracefully. I have had it take close to 4 hours to get through this step. Of course, there is always a chance an update can hang in this state as well requiring further actions. You can not even begin to deal with folders until you can log into your user account. There are a number of things that can resolve this 'getting windows ready' message, none which are particularly quick and easy. I suggest you run through the troubleshooting steps here to attempt to get the system back into a stable state. If none of them work and you are unable to reset the PC, you have no alternative but to clean install Windows or restore from a backup if you have one.

FIX: 'Getting Windows Ready, don't turn off your computer' stuck on Windows 10/11.

If your computer is stuck at "Getting Windows Ready, don't turn off your computer" screen for a long time, read the instructions in this article.

www.wintips.org

kenwood said:
I think the folder that I removed system permission from was "documents".

Without seeing your folder structure, I can only make an educated guess. I think you probably set up your machine using a MS account which defaults the user folders for documents, desktop, and pictures to onedrive, NOT in your user account as you have been accustomed to. In your first post you stated it was 'downloads'. Downloads DO default to the user folder, not to Onedrive. Changing permissions was not the proper way to deal with it no matter which folder it was.

If it comes down to a clean install you can set up a local account which does not default to onedrive by following this tutorial. Pay attention that you follow step 21 for a local account. If you choose a MS account there is a method to turn off onedrive syncing and move folders back to your local drive.

Clean Install Windows 11

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

garlin · Jun 27, 2023

There's two different "Getting Windows Ready" screens. When applying Updates, it's on the light blue background. When Windows is trying to (re-) provision your account, it's on the black background. My hunch would be the latter.

kenwood · Jun 27, 2023

Garlinn: It's blue

johnlgalt · Jun 27, 2023

User Profile has been altered in a way that Windows cannot boot correctly, as @garlin noted.

So, getting back to what you did, @kenwood - you've described what you did, but the bigger issue is we don't know what exactly that you did. And, it's safe to say, unless you took lots of screenshots, or a video, you're probably not 100% positive of the steps that you did either.

The good news is that most machines from manufacturers incorporate a method to reset them to factory defaults.

Follow @OAT's suggestion in this post above to get into safe mode, and then, using a cell phone or camera, show us what you've got, so we can walk you through the process of resetting the laptop back to factory defaults and you can start over.

FreeBooter · Jun 27, 2023

Have you tried to restore Windows 11 using System Restore tool from Safe Mode or Recovery Environment?

You can also enable built-in Administrator user account and create yourself a new user account.

In this video, you will find detailed instructions on how to enable the hidden administrator account on Windows 11,10, 8, 7 or Vista based computer, by modifying the Windows Registry Offline in case you cannot login to Windows by using another account with admin rights.

kenwood · Jun 27, 2023

My computer is now working fine. I again followed your instructions and clicked restart with the shift key pushed. This time It took me to a page which allowed me to do a reset. Thank you all kindly for all the help. You are a good bunch. Stay alert however, because I will probably screw something else up...LOL

Wisewiz · Jun 27, 2023

Watch yourself, @kenwood, three strikes and you're out around here.

Just kidding. Welcome to the right forum for W11 problems. If you "screw something else up...LOL" c'mon back to this forum with a clear description and some screenshots, and you'll be amazed how fast you can get the miracle cure for your ailment.

johnlgalt · Jun 28, 2023

kenwood said:
My computer is now working fine. I again followed your instructions and clicked restart with the shift key pushed. This time It took me to a page which allowed me to do a reset. Thank you all kindly for all the help. You are a good bunch. Stay alert however, because I will probably screw something else up...LOL

Good to hear!

Now, might I suggest that you start making some manual System Restore points before engaging in anything that you might be doing to customize the install? It will help make things easier if something else breaks - and let's face it. I live and breath Windows, use it every day, but it is a Microsoft product, and sometimes they just don't behave - without any input needed from a user.

So, whether something happens through a mistake on your part, or whether it happens because it's Microsoft, at least you'll be better covered with the restore points.

While you're at it, check out our Tutorials here to accomplish a myriad of things, from basic customization to advanced organization, and more. Just click the Tutorials section at the top of the page to take a look.

Cheers!

kenwood · Jun 28, 2023

Done John. Made a restore point and a recovery disk

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