Cannot Delete File Using Windows NT Explorer

 Last reviewed: October 7, 1997
Article ID: Q165126
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

If directory permissions are set to full control for everyone, and permissions for a file within that directory are set to "no access" or "delete" (only), anyone should be able to delete the file. This is expected behavior and works correctly in File Manager and at a command prompt. This is also documented in the "Setting Directory Permissions" section of the Windows NT Server System Guide. However, if you attempt to delete the file by using Windows NT Explorer, it returns an access denied error.

Adding read permission to the file allows the file to be deleted.

CAUSE

Windows NT Explorer attempts to move the file to the recycle bin (for undelete) and it fails with access denied.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

KBCategory: kbbug kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: ntfilesys ntdomain ntsecurity
Additional query words: ntfs perms winfile cmd
Keywords : kbbug4.00 ntdomain ntfilesys ntsecurity NTSrvWkst kberrmsg
Version : WinNT:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug

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Last reviewed: October 7, 1997
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