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Windows is BLOCKING access to a newly formatted drive.

Jeremy @ JR Repair 0 Reputation points
2025-10-02T18:22:32.2333333+00:00

Someone else asked this question and was successful in getting a resolution. Unfortunately my concern does not get answered because unlike the other poster, I have no files or folders. This is a blank extra storage SSD drive, no data, Installed, Formatted and blank, zero new data to take control of. 2 additional notes, PC 1 is Windows 11 Home, 2nd PC is Win 11 Pro. Home PC this is SATA cabled direct into the PC, on Win Pro I am using a SATA to USB connector, both have the same end result, I cannot get data or permissions onto the blank drive.

Excerpts from the other post:I have recently encountered 2 issues in which my system (Win 11 Home laptop) has not been able to complete a task due to the inability of the SYSTEM account to access my Documents folder.

In one case, scheduled backups using the software failed because the system couldn't read the definitions file, stored in my Documents folder. This took me a while to track down, but once I looked at the Effective Access of the SYSTEM account for that directory (and saw all red "x"s) I figured it out. I explicitly added the SYSTEM account to the directory permissions with full access, and the problem went away.

I did try diskpart, I did try Takeown, I did try Icacls but all fail to fix this issue.

Now here is the kicker for me, I am the owner, I am the Admin, I am able to format the drive, I am able to change the Partition, I am able to do pretty much every task I want EXCEPT change the permissions and put something onto the blank drive?!?!?!?!

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Windows for business | Windows Server | Storage high availability | Other
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  1. Joseph Tran 3,045 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-10-02T18:53:14.0866667+00:00

    Hi, There

    If the SSD is blank but you still can’t copy files, it’s probably not a normal “ownership” problem but either the format, permissions on the root, or even the USB adapter.

    You can try this clean fix BUT nothing on the drive will be kept:

    • Open Command Prompt (Admin).
    • Run:
    diskpart
list disk
select disk X   (replace X with your SSD)
clean
convert gpt
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick
assign letter=Z
exit

    => This wipes and fully resets the drive.

    • Then reset permissions:
    takeown /f Z:\ /r /d y
icacls Z:\ /grant %username%:F /t

    => This makes sure you’re the owner with full control.

    • If you’re using a USB–SATA adapter, try plugging the SSD straight into SATA — some adapters cause weird permission issues.

    That should give you a totally clean, writable NTFS drive.

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