There is a common issue with Windows 7 that many files and folders do not actually belong to the user. Below solutions will help you take ownership and full control permissions of files & folders in Windows 7.

OPTION 1:

Open COMMAND PROMPT and run below commands.

1. Taking Ownership for files: takeown /f [file_name] /d y
   
2. Taking permissions for files: icacls [file_name] /grant administrators:F
   
3. Taking Ownership for folders/directories: takeown /f [directory_name]  /r /d y
   
4. Taking permissions folders/directories:
   
   icacls [directory_name] /grant administrators:F /t

Note: Replace [file_name] and [directory_name] with actual names. If you do not want the command for folders to run recursively then remove /r and /t from the code.

OPTION 2:

Taking Ownership:

1. Go to WINDOWS EXPLORER and locate the files/folders for which you want to take ownership.
2. Right click and go to PROPERTIES>SECURITY>ADVANCED.
3. Click on the OWNER tab in ‘Advanced Security Settings’ dialog.
4. Click on EDIT button. This will open a new dialog.
5. Select the owner in the NEW OWNER box and click OK.
6. Click OK button in first dialog and PROPERTIES window.

Taking permissions:

1. Locate the file and go to PROPERTIES>SECURITY>EDIT.
2. Select user in the ‘Group or user names’ box to whom you want to grant permission OR click on ADD button to add them.
3. Select the permissions you want to grant/deny. Click OK.

Below video will help you take ownership of folders in Windows 7

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