How to Delete Files Protected by TrustedInstaller

How to Delete Files Protected by TrustedInstaller

If you try to delete or rename certain files that are installed by default in Windows, for example EXPLORER.EXE you will soon discover that you can't do anything with the file even if you are a system admin. This is because they are owned by a process called "Trusted Installer". If you try to rename or delete the file you will get the following warning appear on your screen.

Thankfully there is a workaround. You first have to change the security permissions on the file and take ownership of the file and then give yourself full control to access the file. Once you have done this you will be able to delete, or rename the file. By reading this "How To", I will guide you through the required steps in order to change the file ownership and permissions. Browse to the file you want to change the permissions on, in the example I am going to use Explore.exe which is in the c:\windows\ folder. Right Click the file and select Properties

On the file properties tab you need to select the Security tab

Once on the Security tab you need to click on the Advanced button

On the advanced tab you will see that TrustedInstaller has full control over the file, whilst everyone else has "read & execute" rights. To change this you need to click on the Owner Tab

On the Owner tab you can now see that the current owner is set to TrustedInstaller.

Click the Edit button at the bottom of the window

Highlight the user you would like to become the new owner and then select OK at the bottom of the tab.

I would generally pick administrators but on this occasion I selected my own account. A security warning will appear advising that you need to close and reopen the file properties before you can make any changes. Click OK on the security prompt.

Once the security prompt has closed you can see in the owners tab that the file permissions have changed to the account you selected.

Click OK on all the file properties tabs that are still open to close them. Once closed Right click the file again and select properties. Then select the Security Tab again. This time on the security tab you select the Edit button

If the user name you changed the ownership to is not in the list then click on the Add button

Type the beginning of the user name into the search box and click on the Check Names button.

One you have added the user account, click on the OK button Once the account that you gave ownership properties too is listed in the Group or User Names window, click on the Allow box next to Full Control.

Click Apply to make the changes.

On the Windows Security Tab select Yes. Click OK on both of the open file properties tabs to close them down. This time when you go to delete the file you are allowed to.

This procedure will also work on folders in exactly the same way.

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