Access Denied

[Mike Mitchell]

On my Windows XP box, the BOINC6 directory is inaccessible and refuses all my attempts to be changed or deleted.

In Windows explorer, if I click on the directory it returns the error "C:\Program Files\BOINC6" is not accessible. Access denied.

I've checked the attributes in a CLI but that returns the same error.

Does anyone have any ideas what causes this or how to fix it?

[Wang Solutions]

Which version of BOINC are you using? And I gather that BOINC6 is a non-standard location that you have created yourself? I am guessing from that name that you are using BOINC v 6.x and have chosen that folder name accordingly. Usually that message means the folder is "locked". Rebooting your computer (yes, the old standby fix for anything) may unlock it. If that does not fix it, make sure that boinc.dll, boinc.exe, boinccmd.exe and boincmgr.exe are all stopped, as these all access that folder.

[Furlozza]

Also report the fault to BOINC message board, cause methinks that some of their 'improvements' are more dastardly than the 'errors' they are correcting from older versions.

[WikiWill]

Does anyone have any ideas what causes this or how to fix it?

Are you logged in as a user with admin rights?  If not then you may have no permission to access the folder.  There are a few solutions to this.

But if you're an admin, and if you're trying to remove the folder and have tried the other suggestions here, then you could try adding your login account to the BOINC admin / manager group (if there is one) then logging in again.  As long as you aren't running XP home, you can add your account by right-clicking on My Computer, choose Manage, and navigate to the Groups container.  Double click whichever BOINC group looks relevant and click add, and enter your login.

[Mike Mitchell]

It occured so long ago I don't remember whether a beta Boinc 6 created the directory or I did it to protect the Boinc 5 data and settings.
I have rebooted quite a number of times but the access to the directory is still denied.
I am logged in as admin.

The problem is that when I do a new BOINC install now it still uses the BOINC6 directory unless I install Boinc 5. The Boinc subdirectory in wndows is also BOINC6 and access is denied.

Funny thing is I think that Boinc still installs into those directories.

Any other ideas or suggestions?

[WikiWill]

Going back to WS's comment I think a process locking the folder is most likely now.

Have you ever used the sysinternals process explorer? If so you can use that to find it, but it is confusing initially.

Could anyone have that folder open remotely, eg via a Windows share from another PC, or via a remote RDP or similar session?

Is there a 3rd party boinc mgr installed and monitoring the folder?

[Wang Solutions]

If you do a reinstall you do not have to install into the same folder. You can change the directory by clicking the Advanced button during the install process. This unlocks what it offers by default and you can then install a new copy somewhere else.

[Agnew]

Have you looked in the windows "Task Manager/ Processes" to see if "boinc.exe, etc" is still running and shut it down from there if it is?

[Mike Mitchell]

Have you ever used the sysinternals process explorer? If so you can use that to find it, but it is confusing initially.

I don't know what this is, how do I find it?

[Mike Mitchell]

If you do a reinstall you do not have to install into the same folder.

Yep, I tried that several times but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

[Wang Solutions]

Have you tried booting in Safe Mode and either accessing the folder or deleting it from there?

[Mike Mitchell]

Have you looked in the windows "Task Manager/ Processes" to see if "boinc.exe, etc" is still running and shut it down from there if it is?

Boinc isn't running but I'll need to check that something else, perhaps BoincView, and when I have the problem PC running again, I'll see if it has any effect.

[Mike Mitchell]

Have you tried booting in Safe Mode and either accessing the folder or deleting it from there?

I don't remeber but that sounds like a good suggestion, I'll give that a try too.

[Wang Solutions]

Given that you use BoincView, also disconnect from the network before rebooting (or boot in Safe Mode without networking).

[yoda]

You could also boot in with a LInux live CD, then connect to the Windows drive and delete the directory :)