Windows 10: Want to delete files on external HDD, but can't.

Windows Version: 20H2 Build 19042.985 I have an external HDD that is a leftover from a previous laptop and I'm using it for backup. I deleted what I could from it, but it still has some files left that I can't delete. When I try, I get a message telling me I need administrator permission to do that. I'm the administrator, and I have my permission. How do I convince my computer of that?

:)

 

Access to files on external HDD

I recently bought a new Windows 10 computer. I already have an external HDD with my photos on. To migrate my other data (e.g. Office docs etc) from the C: drive on my old XP computer I copied the relevant folders to the external HDD. I intend to copy this
data to an internal HDD on my new computer, but before doing so I am deleting files that I no longer require. I am signed in with an administrator account on my new computer, but every time I try to delete or move a file or folder on the external HDD, a dialog
box pops up asking for administrator permission. Clicking 'Yes' enables me to delete or move the file/folder, but this is clearly laborious. Inspecting the properties of files/folders on the external HDD, I see that every file and folder has a blue/yellow
shield against Rename and Delete.

Is there a way that that I can simply update the permissions on all files/folders on the external HDD to give full access to my administrator account, so that I can move/delete files without needing to give permission every time.

Note - At the end of the day I want to move the Office docs etc to an internal HDD on my new computer but leave the photos on the external HDD. But I want my administrator account to have full access to both types of file.

 

Deleting windows.old and WINDOWS.TEMP from external HDD

Windows.old can be difficult to remove. Here is a simple way to get rid of it:

• Copy the files you wish to keep to a different disk, e.g. a flash disk.
• Format the external disk.
• Restore the files you copied in Step 1.

 

Access to files on external HDD

Hi Jenith - as per my original post, I am already signed in with an administrator account. However, I have been through your suggestion and created a local administrator account, but as I expected, this has made no difference. Right-click on any file/folder
on the external HDD still shows a blue/yellow shield against Delete and Rename.

Do you or anyone else have a solution for the issue in my original post?

Thanks