Windows 7 / Getting Started

Viewing and modifying existing basic permissions

You can view or modify a file or folder's existing basic permissions by completing the following steps:

  1. In Windows Explorer, right-click the file or folder you want to work with and then select Properties.
  2. In the Properties dialog box, select the Security tab. The "Group or user names" list shows all users and groups with basic permissions for the selected file or folder. If you select a user or a group in this list, the assigned permissions are displayed in the "Permissions for Users" or "Permissions for Groups" list.
    If permissions are shaded (unavailable), it means they have been inherited from a parent folder.
  3. Before you can change or remove permissions, you must click Edit. This opens an editable view of the Security tab in a new dialog box.
  4. Click the existing user or group whose permissions you want to modify.
  5. To modify existing permissions, use the Allow and Deny columns in the "Permissions for Users" list. Select checkboxes in the Allow column to add permissions, and clear checkboxes to remove permissions.
  6. To prevent a user or a group from using a permission, select the appropriate checkbox in the Deny column. Denied permissions have precedence over other permissions.
  7. Click OK to save your changes.

Adding new basic permissions

You can add new basic permissions to a file or folder by completing the following steps:

  1. In Windows Explorer, right-click the file or folder you want to work with and then select Properties.
  2. In the Properties dialog box, select the Security tab. The "Group or user names" list shows all users and groups with basic permissions for the selected file or folder.
  3. If a user or group whose permissions you want to assign isn't already listed, click Edit. This opens an editable view of the Security tab in a new dialog box.
  4. Click Add to display the Select Users or Groups dialog box.
  5. Type the name of a user or a group account. Click Check Names and then do one of the following:
    • If a single match is found for each entry, the dialog box is automatically updated as appropriate and the entry is underlined.
    • If multiple matches are found, you'll see an additional dialog box that allows you to select the name or names you want to use, and then click OK.
    • If no matches are found, you've probably entered an incorrect name. Modify the name in the Name Not Found dialog box and then click Check Names again.
  6. Configure permissions for each user and group you added by selecting an account name and then allowing or denying access permissions as appropriate.
  7. Click OK to save your settings.

Removing basic permissions

You can remove a user or group's basic permissions by following these steps:

  1. In Windows Explorer, right-click the file or folder you want to work with and then select Properties.
  2. In the Properties dialog box, select the Security tab. The "Group or user names" list shows all users and groups with basic permissions for the selected file or folder.
  3. Click Edit to open an editable view of the Security tab in a new dialog box.
  4. Click the existing user or group whose permissions you want to remove, and then click Remove.
  5. Click OK to save your changes.
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