NOTE: This article has been featured by Microsoft. AskVG.com was the first website posting this unique trick.
Many times you need to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows. For example, when you want to customize Windows UI and need to replace existing system files with a new one.
You have to follow no. of steps to take ownership and grant yourself full permission to access the file or folder. But now you can do it in a single step.
You just need to download following zip file and extract it. You'll get a .REG file. Run the file and accept the confirmation:
It'll add an extra option "Take ownership" in file and folder context menu:
Now you can right-click on any file or folder and select "Take ownership" option. It'll make you the owner of the file or folder and you can perform your desired operation on that file or folder.
NOTE: If you face problem while taking ownership of a file or folder using above method, you can try manual method which is mentioned in following article:
[Guide] How to Take Ownership (Permission) of a File or Folder Manually in Windows?
[Guide] How to Restore “TrustedInstaller” as Default Owner of a File or Folder in Windows?
This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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Digital
Awesome, thanks dude
Albert
The changes cause back-up and restore center to mess-up and give the error code message 0x81000006. If you get this message uninstall and everything should work again. I have been using this application to do theme editing and it has been helpful, but it isn't a flawless app. Just learn how to do it yourself and don't be lazy.
P.S. to the creator I would look into fixing these inssues
Josh
Hi, VG.
I used this on the windows 7 RC and after I removed it via the included "uninstall" registry patch I am now missing the shield icon next to "run as administrator" in my right-click context menu. Any help or ideas on how to get the icon back are welcome and would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
VG
^^ Please re-download the file. I have updated the code and now Uninstall registry file will add the Shield icon. :)
Josh
Thanks VG! The new one works great :)
Matt
You know what would be great? Telling me why exactly this is ever needed.
I've been using Vista for ages now, I've tweaked it to run better than before and yet I've never needed to do this and can see no good come of it.
Please put it in your article since I'll never check back.
VG
^^ This option comes handy if you want to modify or replace system files as you'll need to take ownership of the files.
MAGNUMHEART
howdy. why this tweak removes the run as admin entry in apps context menu?
how can i have both. hmm
VG
^^ Because we replace "Run ad Admin" menuitem with "Take Ownership".
MAGNUMHEART
but how come it became my default action.
i mean. when i double click on "CCleaner" it prompts UAC but the display
is the cmd icon which is same action when i click "take ownership"
then i tried ryt click > open then it is also the same.
and also when i ryt click the recycle bin and choose "Open CCleaner"
it also use the action "Take Ownership"
hmm. and also in the task manager, when i click "show processes from all users"
it also do that command.
help pls? how can i revert back to normal.
i remember i had also add "take ownership" command before.
how can i set all my menu settings to normal.
including the tweaks i have added.