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Sysvol - and how to access it

The Sysvol directory on Windows boxes is not one that it's recommended to play with, as it holds all sorts of 'system' stuff essential for the safe running of Windows. Hence if you do try to access it with File Manager, you'll find you don't have permissions to do so - by design.

However, sometimes it goes bad and access it one must. Here's how..

Log onto the server as a Domain or Enterprise admin, and set 'Options|View' to show protected files. Then in an elevated cmd windows:

C:Windowssystem32>takeown /f "C:System Volume information"

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:System Volume information" now owned by user "DOMAINadmin".

"C:System Volume Information" /grant domainadmin:FicaclsC:Windowssystem32>

processed file: C:System Volume Information

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

You can now access the folder and modify files as required. When you've finished, remember to reset the permissions.

icacls "C:System Volume Information" /setowner "NT AuthoritySystem"
icacls "C:System Volume Information" /remove domainadmin

A good review of this issue can be found here.

 

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