Answer to "System Volume Information access denied" question, and also system restore

[Jüš† ä gü¥]

Have any of you wondered why (on WindowsXP----and presumably on other WindowsNT machines as well(wasn't able to check, as I don't use them)) you cannot access the System Volume Information directory?

I have, and I find it extremely annoying that files on your own computer are hidden from you! (I'm the curious type)

So,...if you absolutely must know, YES the restore points ARE stored right inside this special directory

While attrib will let you know of the existence of this directory, you still do not have access. However, that is all about to change

Suppose you have named your user account "Bob"

Well, pull out that trusty command prompt box, "cd" on over to your root directory, and listen up

enter the following command while having sufficient permissions (being the only user of a machine or logging in as administrator should be sufficient)

cacls "System Volume Information" /E /P Bob:F

That should all be on one line, BTW Then press Enter.

Now Bob can access all of that stuff!

to change it back the way it was before, enter the following on a line by itself, and press Enter

cacls "System Volume Information" /E /R Bob

Be really careful to include the /E ESPECIALLY, as if you don't, you might just end up with a file for which nothing has permissions to access (and that is REALLY bad considering this isn't just any file but is a very important system directory with backup volume information inside!)

Well,....haven't seen anyone ask this here....but if anyone was wondering...there you go

I still find it extremely annoying to have to do that, though. (also find it extremely annoying how Microsoft hasn't publicly released the NTFS filesystem format specifications)

Maybe this will help the more curious of you

[vass0922]

can also change the NTFS permissions from the GUI
right click the folder, and go over to the 'Security' Tab ... may have to take ownership of it, but thats easy enough if you're the admin.

[Big]

thanks for the play by play on this "just a guy"

Helped me out a bunch.

Thanks

[darrelld]

Umm, maybe it's just me, but I've never had any trouble accessing that folder. In fact I regularly delete restore points from it.

[chillyham]

I had a virus in the System Volume Information folder and counld't get a it. I found a bunch of other sites saying "here's how to do this..." and yours was the only answer that actually worked!

Thank you 100X

MS

[#43 fan]

Originally Posted by chillyham

I had a virus in the System Volume Information folder and counld't get a it. I found a bunch of other sites saying "here's how to do this..." and yours was the only answer that actually worked!

Thank you 100X

MS

Glad an older post helped.

[harshgw2k3]

Hey... This is the best of the best solution for this really hectic kind of problem...

Just wanna say tonnes of thanks to this member...

Keep this up GUY!!

Cheers!!
Harshal

[pauljmic]

hi i'm doing all this and it still isnt working .. in dos each time i type it in it just brings up the set of commands (like what to chose from) but still not giving me access to the file :/

can you help?

[Steve R Jones]

Paul can you be a lot more specific?
What are you wanting to do and what are you typing to do it?

[pauljmic]

sorry lol .. i was in a bit of a rush before.. ok so ..
i did an avg scan and i told me i have a virus in the system volume information file .. avg won't delete the virus and so i tried the method here.
i typed in cacls "system volume information" /E/P Paul:F

when i pressed enter t gives me the access control list with basically all the diferent commands .. and yet nothing works.
i tried using G (grant) instead of P and it does exactly the same thing

i am trying to get into the file to delete the infected files