I have some old documents that are shown on my hard drive in te my documents
folder.  I keep getting messages that say I can't delete or move or rename
the files (or move the folders they are in as they are missing or have been
moved (I suppose to someplace they aren't).  Anyway, even when signed on as
an administrator they can't be touched.

I even tried a new install of Windows 200 Pro, and updated to service pack 4
and the stupid files are still there!  Even eliminating the user name and
deleting all the files (other than those) in the user folder can't get rid of
them.

What next?

Thanks

Please provide the exact error message. Altho I suspect taking ownership
of the files will cure the issue.

HOW TO: Take Ownership of Files
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268019/en-us

Barque wrote:

Show quoteHide quote

I tried the taking ownership of the files.

Upon clicking on Replace Owner on subcontainers and objects, I get the
following error message:

"An error occurred applying security information to:
C:\Documents and Settings\...  ...\Tank Ladder
The system cannot find the file specified"

Yet they exist (and the other files) in the window.

I'm befuddled for sure.

Show quoteHide quote

Show quote Hide quote Maybe they are corrupted.
try running chkdsk /f   or chkdsk /r

Sounds like file system corruption.

You can
run;
chkdsk /r
from the recovery console command line. (/r implies /f and /p)

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup
floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks. At
the "Welcome to Setup" screen. Press F10 or R to repair a Windows 2000
installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The Recovery
Console then prompts you for the administrator password.  If you do not have
the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Note If the registry is corrupted
or missing or no valid installations are found, the Recovery Console starts
in the root of the startup volume without requiring a password. You cannot
access any folders, but you can carry out commands such as chkdsk, fixboot,
and fixmbr for limited disk repairs. Once the password has been validated,
you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access to the hard
disk. You can only access the following folders on your computer: drive
root, %windir% or %systemroot%

You can also download and run a disk diagnostic utility from the drive
manufacturer's web site.


Also sounds like you tried a repair install.
-------------------------------------------

To do a clean install, either boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom or setup
disks. The set of four install disks can be created from your Windows 2000
CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk directory on the CD-Rom and execute
makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe (from 32 bit) and follow the
prompts.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want
to boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very
important (at setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive
controller detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later
you'll be prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows 2000 driver
for your drive controller in drive "A")

Setup inspects your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to
install the Setup and driver files. When the Windows 2000 Professional
screen appears, press ENTER to set up Windows 2000 Professional.

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows 2000 Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply SP4 and these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0-A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

Then

Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?amp;displaylang=en&familyid=B54730CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en



Show quoteHide quote

Barque wrote:

Make a note of the instances of the paths where the unwanted files
occur. Go to your system disk and log on to the recovery console as
administrator. Then move to the relevant path/s and delete files  from
there.

Thanks for all the suggestions.  Just so you know what resulted:

This machine was one that I had working for a company which was sold to
another firm who apparently put their own licensed version of Windows on the
machine.  But the new company owner failed to remove the old version, they
just created a new partition.  So I found that there were two installations
of Windows 2000 pro on the machine.

In the end, I would up deleting the partition and reformatted the entire
drive and did a clean install.  Problem solved, and I should have looked more
closely at the file structures/partitions on the drive before tearing my hair
out.

Boot problem
win 2000
Event ID:222 source:SWS
Spooled print job size much larger than actual file
Chkdsk runs twice?
FOR SALE Microsoft XBOX 360 console.....$220usd
Computer Locks up after 15 minutes
Blank Blue Desktop
Windows installer launching whenever I try to open a file
Unplug or Eject Hardware Icon missing