Solved Cannot copy to system32\drivers folder

Dear All,

I am using Win 8 Pro 64-bit. I am unable to copy some sys files inside C:\Windows\System32\Drivers folder.
Getting message Error-Access is Denied. I have taken the ownership of the entire 'Windows' folder via the Add_Take_Ownership.reg file (which I got from this forum). Even that did NOT help. I am getting the same access denied error. Any idea guys?

Thanks,
Tanmoy.

Since that is not something that one normally would do, could you please explain why you would want to do that so I can learn something new?

In order to change anything in these system folder. You must take ownership of the folder, away from the system. You can goggle on how to do this.

Clintlgm said:

In order to change anything in these system folder. You must take ownership of the folder, away from the system. You can goggle on how to do this.

Click to expand...

He already did that.

I have taken the ownership of the entire 'Windows' folder via the Add_Take_Ownership.reg file

Click to expand...

my2cents said:

Since that is not something that one normally would do, could you please explain why you would want to do that so I can learn something new?

Click to expand...

I was having problem installing my USB dongle in the desktop..the same however was successful in my laptop...so i copied the relevant system files from laptop's system32\drivers folder and now intend to copy them in the same path in my desktop.

onlytanmoy said:

my2cents said:

Since that is not something that one normally would do, could you please explain why you would want to do that so I can learn something new?

Click to expand...

I was having problem installing my USB dongle in the desktop..the same however was successful in my laptop...so i copied the relevant system files from laptop's system32\drivers folder and now intend to copy them in the same path in my desktop.

Click to expand...

Ok, thanks for that but I somehow have to believe there may be some subtle differences because one is a laptop and the other is a desktop but I cannot say for sure. Anyway, good luck to you.

Hi onlytanmoy,

1. I am sorry but this is a very bad idea changing ownership on the C:\Windows folder, you might experience something is broken in the future. I would advise you to do a system restore prior to what you did.
2. Installing Driver is not as simple as you think, to copy .sys, .dll files from the drivers folder won't do the trick since it involves update to system registry, set up services etc...
3. As a test, I did copy the drivers folder to another hard drive and I have no problem doing so. Maybe your user login does not have the Administrator right.
4. To answer your original question, you can boot to Command Prompt using recovery disk, find out what drive letter your Windows OS is assigned to from diskpart then use a regular DOS copy/xcopy command to copy what you want.

Hope this helps !!!

@topgundcp>> thanks a lot for your suggestion mate..that was very helpful..marking this thread as 'solved'.

You are welcome. Cheers !!!