How to change permissions on a folder when the owner doesn't have read access and no one else has change permissions enabled?

Question

So the basic scenario is this. UserA creates a folder with a few subfolders and documents. UserB comes along and changes the permissions on the folder and subfolders so he can list folder contents and read folder (not modify or write). Everyone else, including SYSTEM and the owner, can only list folder contents. I know the owner should be able to override permissions on the folder but they can't even see the folder to change permissions. So UserB can't change the permissions because he doesn't have permission to do that and isn't the owner. And UserA can't even see the folder to do anything with it.

Solution

Edit the ownership of the parent folder (Security -> Advanced -> Owner -> Edit) and apply that to all subfolders.

after that's done, edit permissions to apply wanted permissions, then tell it to apply the permission to all subfolders before applying.

Comments

[codesmyth]

I tried from UserB's account and permission is denied.

[Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007]

If you didn't, do it form an account that has administrator permissions. Also, you need to take ownership first, including "Replace on subcontainers" option (I'll edit this into my answer).

[codesmyth]

I tried it from UserA and UserB's accounts (both have Administrator permissions). Neither one worked. UserA still isn't showing the folder at all. UserB is denied. Administrator's account has no permissions except list contents. I think part of the problem is UserA's account can't see the folder to make permission changes.

[Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007]

Are these folders on a local Windows machine, or are they on a network share? If they are on a remote computer, do these users have Administrator permissions on the computer the folders are located? When you try to change the ownership on the parent folder to one of the Administrator users in question, what is the actual error message you get at that point?

[codesmyth]

They are on a network share. The error is "An error occurred while applying security information to: S:\F... Access is denied."

[Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007]

Have you ensured they have administrator permissions on the machine hosting the shared folder? Have you tried adjusting ownership and permission to the folder directly, on the server that's hosting it?

[Ramhound]

Based on the error your getting you either don't have administrator permission or they are limited to the local machine.