File permissions are completely off.
File permissions are completely off.
I attempted to reach my primary computers hard drive (with a separate Windows setup) to move some files to my SSD used by my laptop. Allowed Windows to access the drive and adjust its permissions. When I restarted to my main HDD's Windows installation, things quickly went wrong—no desktop screen appeared, default icons replaced most shortcuts, Chrome profiles disappeared, and most of my files were corrupted in terms of permissions. Accessing anything required manual permission changes, which often failed. I tried downloading the Windows Media Creation Tool to reinstall without losing data, but that also didn’t work. It seems there’s no straightforward way to fix all permissions, so reinstalling might be the best option.
1. Check the NTFS file permission settings online or try using your laptop again to adjust access rights by assigning full control to all users, including owners via administrators for specific folders. You can always reinstall Windows, though this approach doesn’t teach anything and may lead you to recommend system reinstalls even after minor changes.
I used the tool you referenced across all folders in the root directory (Program Files, Windows, etc.). It functioned properly, but a few files remain corrupted and some file associations are broken. I was able to attempt a fresh installation of Windows and it succeeded. I’ll keep you updated.
Great to know I can assist a bit. Regarding updates, since you're reinstalling Windows, I can only hope you succeed—it's not something I usually do. I'm trying to steer clear of reinstalling the OS, as it's more of a personal project for others.