No access to file, no Security tab

[jbradley]

We have an Excel spreadsheet on a Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition file server that cannot be accessed in any way by anyone including domain admins and the local admin account on the server. There is no Security tab on the Properties sheet. We cannot set or view the ACL using CACLS. Taking ownership or pushing down security settings from the folder level fails on this file. This file is preventing an automated process from running because the process crashes when it gets the Access Denied error (which is another story altogether).

Has anyone run into this before and found a fix? I'm open to and would greatly appreciate any reasonable suggestions. I haven't tried a reboot of the server but may be able to after 1:00 AM Saturday.

 

[ITPangaeaArchitect]

very strange...if this were XP, it would simply be simple file sharing....

are you attempting to view the ACL locally on the server, or remotely, such as from a laptop/workstation? if viewing remotely, this is by design...

-Brandon Wilson
MCSE00/03, MCSA:Messaging00, MCSA03, A+

 

[itsp1965]

Have you tried running the ICACLS command line tool against the file to see if you can reset the ACE/ACL

 

[jbradley]

We tried setting access to Everyone/Full using CACLS and got an Access Denied error. I will try ICACLS and see if it does any better.

 

[ITPangaeaArchitect]

it should fail too with access denied...that error doesnt come from a program glitch inside of native windows (ok maaaybe in sql or something)

something i forgot to add earlier...sometimes, people get malicious, and add users and groups into the guest group, which could easily cause what you're seeing. may be worth the fast check....it always bites ya after hours of work when its found...


-Brandon Wilson
MCSE00/03, MCSA:Messaging00, MCSA03, A+