Disabled UAC Still Can't Rename Files. Now What?

This is insane. SP1 is installed and gave me no problems but now I have been
reverted back to hell.

Even with no UAC enabled I can't rename C:\Windows\notepad.exe to
notepad.default.exe so I can replace it with NotePad++. So what's next if I
am not an Administrator when logged in?

"clintonG" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> This is insane. SP1 is installed and gave me no problems but now I have
> been reverted back to hell.
>
> Even with no UAC enabled I can't rename C:\Windows\notepad.exe to
> notepad.default.exe so I can replace it with NotePad++. So what's next if
> I am not an Administrator when logged in?


It's for security. Executable files in C:\Windows are read only, so
malware can't rename and replace them with infected crap.

Why do you want to rename Notepad anyways? Put NotePad++ somewhere else -
like in Program Files or in your User folder - and just put a link to it on
your desktop.

Hi, Clinton.

I agree with Bob! If you MUST use a replacement for a native part of Vista,
put it somewhere outside the \Windows folder.

Not that I object to a 3rd-party replacement. But I would surely keep it
out of the boot folder.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)

"clintonG" <> wrote in message
news:#...
> This is insane. SP1 is installed and gave me no problems but now I have
> been reverted back to hell.
>
> Even with no UAC enabled I can't rename C:\Windows\notepad.exe to
> notepad.default.exe so I can replace it with NotePad++. So what's next if
> I am not an Administrator when logged in?

"clintonG" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> This is insane. SP1 is installed and gave me no problems but now I have
> been reverted back to hell.
>
> Even with no UAC enabled I can't rename C:\Windows\notepad.exe to
> notepad.default.exe so I can replace it with NotePad++. So what's next if
> I am not an Administrator when logged in?

Open a Command Prompt and type:

takeown /f C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe

Then type this & hit enter (Replace USERNAME with YOUR USERNAME. If your
name has a space in it, enclose it with quotes, like "clinton G"):

cacls C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe /G USERNAME:F

Then in Windows Explorer go to C:\Windows\System32

Rename the original notepad.exe to something else, like
"notepad.exe.ORIGINAL", just in case.

If you are unable to do the above, try rebooting into SAFE MODE

Then copy & paste the new notepad.exe into the C:\Windows\System32 folder

ss.

Thanks for the tips I didn't need a lecture ;-)

"Synapse Syndrome" <> wrote in message
news:...
> "clintonG" <> wrote in message
> news:%...
>> This is insane. SP1 is installed and gave me no problems but now I have
>> been reverted back to hell.
>>
>> Even with no UAC enabled I can't rename C:\Windows\notepad.exe to
>> notepad.default.exe so I can replace it with NotePad++. So what's next if
>> I am not an Administrator when logged in?
>
> Open a Command Prompt and type:
>
> takeown /f C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe
>
> Then type this & hit enter (Replace USERNAME with YOUR USERNAME. If your
> name has a space in it, enclose it with quotes, like "clinton G"):
>
> cacls C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe /G USERNAME:F
>
> Then in Windows Explorer go to C:\Windows\System32
>
> Rename the original notepad.exe to something else, like
> "notepad.exe.ORIGINAL", just in case.
>
> If you are unable to do the above, try rebooting into SAFE MODE
>
> Then copy & paste the new notepad.exe into the C:\Windows\System32 folder
>
> ss.
>

Thanks for the tips I didn't need a lecture ;-)
BTW cacls is now icacls in Vista and it looks like there's some slight
changes in supported arguments.

"Synapse Syndrome" <> wrote in message
news:...
> "clintonG" <> wrote in message
> news:%...
>> This is insane. SP1 is installed and gave me no problems but now I have
>> been reverted back to hell.
>>
>> Even with no UAC enabled I can't rename C:\Windows\notepad.exe to
>> notepad.default.exe so I can replace it with NotePad++. So what's next if
>> I am not an Administrator when logged in?
>
> Open a Command Prompt and type:
>
> takeown /f C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe
>
> Then type this & hit enter (Replace USERNAME with YOUR USERNAME. If your
> name has a space in it, enclose it with quotes, like "clinton G"):
>
> cacls C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe /G USERNAME:F
>
> Then in Windows Explorer go to C:\Windows\System32
>
> Rename the original notepad.exe to something else, like
> "notepad.exe.ORIGINAL", just in case.
>
> If you are unable to do the above, try rebooting into SAFE MODE
>
> Then copy & paste the new notepad.exe into the C:\Windows\System32 folder
>
> ss.
>

Thanks for the tips. I didn't need the lecture ;-)

BTW -- cacls has been deprecated by icacls and there appears to be some
change in the supported grammar as /G is no longer spelled that way.

"Synapse Syndrome" <> wrote in message
news:...
> "clintonG" <> wrote in message
> news:%...
>> This is insane. SP1 is installed and gave me no problems but now I have
>> been reverted back to hell.
>>
>> Even with no UAC enabled I can't rename C:\Windows\notepad.exe to
>> notepad.default.exe so I can replace it with NotePad++. So what's next if
>> I am not an Administrator when logged in?
>
> Open a Command Prompt and type:
>
> takeown /f C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe
>
> Then type this & hit enter (Replace USERNAME with YOUR USERNAME. If your
> name has a space in it, enclose it with quotes, like "clinton G"):
>
> cacls C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe /G USERNAME:F
>
> Then in Windows Explorer go to C:\Windows\System32
>
> Rename the original notepad.exe to something else, like
> "notepad.exe.ORIGINAL", just in case.
>
> If you are unable to do the above, try rebooting into SAFE MODE
>
> Then copy & paste the new notepad.exe into the C:\Windows\System32 folder
>
> ss.
>

"clintonG" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Thanks for the tips. I didn't need the lecture ;-)

Ok, I got the message, but why ask in the first place then?

> BTW -- cacls has been deprecated by icacls and there appears to be some
> change in the supported grammar as /G is no longer spelled that way.

I don't use Vista, so you'll have to work it out yourself.

ss.

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:19:10 -0000, "Synapse Syndrome"
<> wrote:

>"clintonG" <> wrote in message
>news:%...
>> Thanks for the tips. I didn't need the lecture ;-)
>
>Ok, I got the message, but why ask in the first place then?
>
>> BTW -- cacls has been deprecated by icacls and there appears to be some
>> change in the supported grammar as /G is no longer spelled that way.
>
>I don't use Vista, so you'll have to work it out yourself.
>
>ss.
>

Then why are you here? To raise rabble?

ham

"ham" <> wrote in message
news...
>>
>>I don't use Vista, so you'll have to work it out yourself.
>>
>>ss.
>>
>
> Then why are you here? To raise rabble?

Hardly. I've been posting here since August 2006, and have answered posts
numbering in the thousands. I just don't currently use Vista on my main
machines as I can live without 3D Flip. I never get malware, and never run
XP as Administrator (I run CMD as admin and call all admin tasks from
there), so I don't need UAC either. My CAD and 3D applications run faster
on XP.

I'm planning to put Vista back on my main workstation now that SP1 has come
out, but I don't see any big reason to use it, other than I have an
otherwise wasted license.

Why are you here?

ss.