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Windows Vista by default employs User Account Control (UAC) for better security, but it also brings some obstacle when you try to modify(replace or delete) a system file. This can be achieved by taking ownership of the file and then grant yourself full control over the file.

Without turning off UAC, we need to get an elevated command prompt first:

1. Click the Start Button

2. Click All Programs->Accessories and find Command Prompt

3. Right click the Command Prompt and select Run As Administrator

4. Click Continue on the UAC prompt.

Alternatively, you can get my sudo utility and simply type sudo cmd in search box.

Once we get the elevated command prompt, following the steps below. Let’s take the Mystify screensaver as  example, filename Mystify.scr, located in C:\Windows\System32 and the user is logged in as Administrator.

1. Type the command takeown /f filename

takeown /f c:windowssystem32mystify.scr

This command support wildcard, for example, you can use

takeown /f c:windowssystem32*.scr

to get the ownership of all the screensavers in system32.

A message will be displayed if this completed successfully.

2. Type icacls filename /grant UserName:F, in our case, it’s

icacls c:windowssystem32mystify.scr /grant Administrator:F

the last F is the privilege bit, and it stands for Full Access here.

A message will be displayed as this completed successfully.

That’s all, and now you can modify the files using any other programs.

The above steps can also be done via GUI, in case you are not comfortable with the command lines.

1. Right-click the file that you want to take ownership of, and then click Properties.

2. Click the Security tab, and then click OK on the Security message (if one appears).

3. Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.

4. In the Name list, click Administrator, or click the Administrators group, and then click OK. The administrator or the Administrators group now owns the file. To change the permissions on the files and folders under this folder, go to step 5.

5. Click Add.

6. In the Enter the object names to select (examples) list, type the user or group account that you want to give access to the file. For example, type Administrator.

7. Click OK.

8. In the Group or user names list, click the account that you want, and then select the check boxes of the permissions that you want to assign that user.

9. When you are finished assigning permissions, click OK.