Windows 10: Fix ALL Permission Errors
To transfer images to my laptop from any device/laptop that's connected in my house to the WiFi (or if I'm out and about elsewhere and know my external IP) without having to install drivers for Android, Windows Phone, Apple, etc. I made a bog standard upload form running on my localhost web server so that whenever I'm on something else or out, I can just upload images straight away. Now after upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10, this still works fine... but with one slight problem.
I can't open the images.
The thumbnails don't process show...
... and when I open the image in Windows Photo Viewer I get given the following message:
Windows Photo Viewer can't open this picture because you don't have the correct permissions to access the file location.
Ok, so the error message is self-explainatory. I don't have permission to view the images I've just sent to my laptop - even though all the previous images I could. So I tried to change the permissions by right-clicking the folder, going into Properties, then into the Security tab, however most options were set to Full Control, but if I try to edit them, I just kept getting this error message:
Error Applying Security
An error occurred while applying security information to:
[FILENAME]
Failed to enumerate objects in the container. Access is denied.
You should also get a very similar error when you try to save or create a new file directly on your main drive (C: in my case).
So what Windows 10 is saying is that I don't have permission to create/edit my files even though in my account settings I am an "Administrator".
Well. I say an Administrator. Actually as an Administrator in Windows 10, you're not.
Administrator accounts are still heavily limited with what you can do - even with your UAC settings on the lowest possible. Really stupid isn't it?
So how do you fix this?
Simple. Actually very simple!
1) Open the RUN box (WINDOWS KEY + R) and type in "secpol.msc". (This has to be done through the RUN box, as it loads it with Administrative privileges)
2) The "Local Security Policy" window will now open. On the left-hand side navigate through to: Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Security Options. Once there, scroll down the right-hand list until you find an entry titled "User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode". Double click it (or right-click and choose "Properties") and change the setting from "Enabled" to "Disabled". Then click APPLY, then OK.
3) You should receive a notification saying "You must restart your computer to off User Account Control". So do as it says and reboot your computer.
Hey presto! You're done. You should now be able to add/edit files ANYWHERE on your computer with no stupid permission-based errors - so basically, you're FREEEEEEEEEE! Do bare in mind though, that with UAC turned off, some potential bad programs can run without having to require your permission (but if you've got your security stuff up to date, you should be fine). Happy days! :)