Trusted Installer?

[Sir Topham Hatt]

Why is it that Windows 7 thinks my computer is going to blow up if I delete a theme file? It's not in use, but apparently I need permission from Trusted Installer to delete it. This is what I hate about Windows. There should just be a setting to turn all that junk off, so when I want to delete something, I can without having to have permission.

Thanks

[georgevella]

I think switching off UAC will do the trick

[Dick Montage]

Get real...

1) It doesn't think your computer will blow up - stop being childish.

2) .theme files work with the system to render and style the GUI - makes sense they should have some form of confirmation.

3) Files within the Windows folder - makes sense they should have some form of confirmation.

4) Feel free to turn UAC off (I personally have no iddue with UAC - leaving it on). Don't whine if you experience issues though!

[Sir Topham Hatt]

I am whining because deleting a .theme file that is not in use should be allowed.

Why does Windows think it desperately needs it?

[+BudMan MVC]

And what file are you trying to delete exactly?

edit: Well its quite clear why you can not delete them - you don't have permission.

Nor are you the owner, so you can not even change the permissions -- if you want to delete it.. Then just take ownership and change the permissions so you can

Here see changed permissions -- now you can delete

Now its deleted - notice that nature.theme file any more ;)

Its not rocket science, and as stated your system was not going to blow up -- it clearly stated the reason why you could not delete that file. And windows never stated it needed that file -- it was just informing of you of the reason why you could not delete it! All that is required is a basic understanding of how ntfs permissions work.

edit2: What I have a hard time understanding is why and the world would you be interested in deleting a 3k file for?? It sure aint taking up any space, etc. MS set the permissions on those files for a specific reason -- they really should not be dicked with ;) More times than not users dicking with stuff like this ends up in FAIL!

Edited December 2, 2009 by BudMan

[Brandon Live Veteran]

I am whining because deleting a .theme file that is not in use should be allowed.

Why does Windows think it desperately needs it?

Core OS files should be very hard to delete. Doing so is extremely dangerous and leaves your OS in an unsupportable state.

What possible reason could you have for deleting that?

[+BudMan MVC]

^ My question exactly..

[what]

It's called security. If it wasn't there, you'd bitch about that as well.

[Sir Topham Hatt]

Huh?

An extra theme file isn't a core system file :s

The reason it sort of concerns me is that I am the controller of the system. While I appreciate many people are not tech savvy, they will probably not even know where the theme folder is or try to delete an extra theme which is not/will never be in use. I want to know what is happening with my system, hence I have all hideen files on display for me to see. I don't want anything hidden from view. . . Although saying that, I have Windows System Files hidden from view as I never need to see them.

Trusted Installer has more permissions than me on my computer - As it is MY computer, MY sistem, then I want to have ALL permissions so I can delete what I like. Windows shouldn't be stopping me deleting a file which isn't even in use (and never will be). Yet I can delete things in the Windows system directory as I please - that isn't right?

I have never come accross this problem before in Windows, it is new with 7.

Edited December 3, 2009 by Mr Spoon

[hdood]

I have never come accross this problem before in Windows, it is new with 7.

Well, you're confusing what is new. Administrators have never had unlimited access to all files. Windows has never worked that way. You're complaining about something that has been part of the Windows design since the beginning.

What has changed over the years though, is the permissions Windows applies to files in an attempt to maintain system integrity. All the theme files that ship as part of the OS are system files. They may not be critical system files, but then neither is most of the stuff in C:\Windows. You could go crazy and delete half of it and still have a system that works with reduced functionality. The OS is only in a supported state (ie for updates or software or customer support) if nothing has been modified or removed system files.

[+BudMan MVC]

"I want to have ALL permissions so I can delete what I like"

You do -- you clearly have the access to take ownership and change whatever permissions you want. Just because you can not delete it out of the box is protection and security. I clearly showed you how to take ownership, and then delete the file if you so choose.

[Eric Veteran]

Huh?

An extra theme file isn't a core system file :s

The reason it sort of concerns me is that I am the controller of the system. While I appreciate many people are not tech savvy, they will probably not even know where the theme folder is or try to delete an extra theme which is not/will never be in use. I want to know what is happening with my system, hence I have all hideen files on display for me to see. I don't want anything hidden from view. . . Although saying that, I have Windows System Files hidden from view as I never need to see them.

Trusted Installer has more permissions than me on my computer - As it is MY computer, MY sistem, then I want to have ALL permissions so I can delete what I like. Windows shouldn't be stopping me deleting a file which isn't even in use (and never will be). Yet I can delete things in the Windows system directory as I please - that isn't right?

I have never come accross this problem before in Windows, it is new with 7.

It's also not supported. There's one theme for Windows 7, and if you stuff another one in the OS's protected folder that's not Microsoft's failure. ;) TrustedInstaller is exactly what it sounds like: a high-permission system account used by Windows Installer.

[petrossa]

Why is it that Windows 7 thinks my computer is going to blow up if I delete a theme file? It's not in use, but apparently I need permission from Trusted Installer to delete it. This is what I hate about Windows. There should just be a setting to turn all that junk off, so when I want to delete something, I can without having to have permission.

Thanks

Trusted installer is the highest privilege and surpasses Administrator.

The only way to get rid of Trusted Installer is to:

1) take ownership of every system folder as Everyone.

2) untick Include Inheritable permissions form this objects parent on the Security/Advanced/Change Permissions Tab

3) At the warning, choose remove.

4) Close security Tab, reopen

5) In the Permissions add only Everyone

6) Give Everyone Full control

Trusted Installer will never irritate you again

[Dick Montage]

I am whining because deleting a .theme file that is not in use should be allowed.

It is a file the system CAN use and is in a system managed folder.

The problem is yours, not Microsofts.

[+BudMan MVC]

"The only way to get rid of Trusted Installer is to:"

1) take ownership of every system folder as Everyone.

5) In the Permissions add only Everyone

6) Give Everyone Full control

Your joking right?? You would actually suggest someone do this?? Why not just do that from C:\ and just give everyone full control?? That way those nasty ntfs permissions will never bother you again :rolleyes:

[petrossa]

"The only way to get rid of Trusted Installer is to:"

1) take ownership of every system folder as Everyone.

5) In the Permissions add only Everyone

6) Give Everyone Full control

Your joking right?? You would actually suggest someone do this?? Why not just do that from C:\ and just give everyone full control?? That way those nasty ntfs permissions will never bother you again :rolleyes:

That's what i always do actually. Since elevation became a bother.

I hardly think the OP is talking about a mission critical server. And if he doesn't want his wife/mother to see his porn collection he can always encrypt it.

Good sense, good anti-malware, and you don't need ntfs/uac irritating the hell out of you.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Huh?

An extra theme file isn't a core system file :s

Extra theme? What does "extra" mean? One you put there?

All the files installed by the OS into the Windows directory are core OS files. Applications may take dependencies on them. This includes theme files, perhaps even for themes other than the one you're currently using. Deleting them puts you in an unsupported (and indeed unsupportable) configuration. This is why it's so difficult to do.

The reason it sort of concerns me is that I am the controller of the system. While I appreciate many people are not tech savvy, they will probably not even know where the theme folder is or try to delete an extra theme which is not/will never be in use. I want to know what is happening with my system, hence I have all hideen files on display for me to see. I don't want anything hidden from view. . . Although saying that, I have Windows System Files hidden from view as I never need to see them.

A truly tech savvy person will understand the need to prevent applications running in the user context from accessing protected file system locations...

Trusted Installer has more permissions than me on my computer

No, it has different ones.

- As it is MY computer, MY sistem, then I want to have ALL permissions so I can delete what I like. Windows shouldn't be stopping me deleting a file which isn't even in use (and never will be). Yet I can delete things in the Windows system directory as I please - that isn't right?

Any file that's protected by WFP is made that way for a reason.

You don't go to your auto manufacturer and say "Hey, why are there these difficult to remove bolts that require special tools around parts of my engine. It's my car, I should be able to easily remove or change any part of it regardless of the consequences." Or do you?

Trusted installer is the highest privilege and surpasses Administrator.

The only way to get rid of Trusted Installer is to:

1) take ownership of every system folder as Everyone.

2) untick Include Inheritable permissions form this objects parent on the Security/Advanced/Change Permissions Tab

3) At the warning, choose remove.

4) Close security Tab, reopen

5) In the Permissions add only Everyone

6) Give Everyone Full control

Trusted Installer will never irritate you again

This is a horrific suggestion and I'm tempted to report your post and ask a mod to delete or put a big disclaimer on it. DO NOT DO THIS unless you basically want to destroy your system.

[Argi]

Trusted installer is the highest privilege and surpasses Administrator.

The only way to get rid of Trusted Installer is to:

1) take ownership of every system folder as Everyone.

2) untick Include Inheritable permissions form this objects parent on the Security/Advanced/Change Permissions Tab

3) At the warning, choose remove.

4) Close security Tab, reopen

5) In the Permissions add only Everyone

6) Give Everyone Full control

Trusted Installer will never irritate you again

That's one of the most ridiculous suggestions. :\

Edited December 4, 2009 by chAos972

[Udedenkz]

@Brandon,

Yes, for some reason giving permission of the system drive (not just %windir%) to everyone prevents Windows search from working as well as some other things from functioning normally. But, I am wandering - so to avoid errors such as these but still gain access to system files, what is the proper method to disable system file protection in W7?

[Argi]

@Brandon,

Yes, for some reason giving permission of the system drive (not just %windir%) to everyone prevents Windows search from working as well as some other things from functioning normally. But, I am wandering - so to avoid errors such as these but still gain access to system files, what is the proper method to disable system file protection in W7?

Through the UAC control panel? I'm not sure if that actually changes permissions though since I've never done it.

[Sir Topham Hatt]

Just to clear some things up:

1) The extra theme file was put there by Windows. It's an extra theme I got.

2) Seriously, Windows has never made anything so complicated (as per screenshots above); but I guess I am learning new "security" features of Windows. I can fully understand files in the C:\Windows directory being protected, but come on, a theme file? I can stop major system services to start at system boot easier than I can delete the extra theme file!

3) I followed the instructions, thank you for posting.

4) I am the ONLY user of my computer, therefore I don't want it hiding files which installers create, then save as a backup or whatever. I like to be all seeing, all knowing on my system.

5) No porn :p

It just surprised me how difficult it was to delete something. To be honest, I'd rather have that possibility than not, as I know what files to keep and what can be deleted and what files should be left.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Just to clear some things up:

1) The extra theme file was put there by Windows. It's an extra theme I got.

Ah, I thought you were referring to in-box themes (meaning the old Themes service themes or "visual style" definitions), which are core OS files. Themes you've installed are a different matter. I'm not as familiar with them, but I think a lot of the protections in place are to prevent theme pack files from doing harm to your system.

3) I followed the instructions, thank you for posting.

Sigh... if you mean petrossa's "instructions" then you may need to reinstall Windows to get things back to normal. I'm not even sure if a system restore point can fix that damage.

It just surprised me how difficult it was to delete something. To be honest, I'd rather have that possibility than not, as I know what files to keep and what can be deleted and what files should be left.

A common misconception to be sure.

[Electric Jolt]

If am I understand correctly, if you just set your permissions to Everyone, not only do you need a reinstall, but I believe anybody can change the way your system works. Simply everybody has permission to the install, so some workaround could possibly allow somebody to remotely take control of your system and do whatever they want since you granted everybody permission.

[Xilo]

This has to be a troll...

It's just too ungodly retarded for anyone with half a brain to even seriously complain about.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

@Brandon,

Yes, for some reason giving permission of the system drive (not just %windir%) to everyone prevents Windows search from working as well as some other things from functioning normally. But, I am wandering - so to avoid errors such as these but still gain access to system files, what is the proper method to disable system file protection in W7?

There are many file which aren't owned by you, they're owned by the system. If you want to remove them, you remove the OS. Every OS has files it creates and modifies which aren't meant to be user-facing.