Windows 10: Can’t Acess C Drive, computer freezes when trying to take ownership

I accidentally removed all authorized users from my C drive and now I can’t acess it. When I try to add users back, by right clicking>properties>Security>Advanced and try to change permissions, my computers freezes and I can’t close out the prompt, but I can click on my desktop, and open other apps. I’ve tried everything else possible and nothing seems to work. I am worried I am completely screwed from ever accessing my C drive again. Any help would be GREATLY Appreciated!

:)

 

Changed Ownership of C:\ and Can't Fix

Hi Greg,

Let's get this issue sorted. To better assist you with this concern, we would like to know the following information:

• Which account is the new owner of the C drive?
• Are you using an account with administrator rights?
• Have you tried changing the ownership back to yourself?

In the meantime, let's try taking back the ownership by following the steps provided by
BurrWalnut in the following thread:
Is there a way to take ownership of my C drive?

You may also perform a repair upgrade using a
Creators Update ISO file. This method can repair broken operating system files while preserving your files, settings and installed applications. For more information and steps on how to perform a repair upgrade, kindly refer to the wiki article created
by Andre Da Costa on the following link:
How to perform a repair upgrade using the Windows 10 ISO file.

Keep us updated on the status of the issue, and we will be glad to assist you further.

 

C drive inaccessible

Hi Paritosh,

Thank you for giving us an opportunity to assist you with the query.

Apologize for the difficulties that you're experiencing in Windows 10.

Please be assured that we will do our best to help you.

• 
  Have you logged in as an administrator?
  
• 
  Have you made any changes to the computer prior to this issue?
  

An "Access Denied" error message can occur for one or more of the following reasons:

• The folder ownership has changed.
• You do not have the appropriate permissions.
• The file is encrypted.

Before we could reset the computer, let us try the following steps, and check if it helps.

Step 1: I suggest you to follow these steps to take the ownership of the drive.

• 
  Right click on Drive C and click
  Properties.
  
• 
  Switch to Security tab, click Edit and
  Add to add your user account, if it is not listed. Assign the
  full control permission for your own account and click OK.
  
• 
  Click Advanced, switch to Ownership tab and click
  Edit button.
  
• 
  Highlight your user account and click
  Apply, and then click OK.
  

Step 2: Let us try to disable to UAC settings and check.

• 
  Press Windows key + S and type
  User account control.
  
• 
  Select Change User Account Control Settings.
  
• 
  Move the slider to Never notify and click
  Ok.
  

Refer: "Access Denied" or other errors when you access or work with files and folders in Windows

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2623670

(Applies to Windows 10 as well).

Hope it helps.

Let us know the status, we are glad to assist you further.

 

Issues after taking ownership of C:\

Code:

Code:

icacls C:\ /setowner "NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller" /T /C

I used Code:

Code:

takeown /F C:\Windows /A

beforehand when trying to do it just for the Windows folder, as suggested by another forum.

EDIT:
My attempt to use the first command has finished and hasn't worked.