# Windows Server 2008: Unable to create or edit new files. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 16, 2009, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-server-2008-unable-to-create-or-edit-new-files/493274 "2009-04-16T09:48:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GSV_Consolation_of_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-server-2008-unable-to-create-or-edit-new-files/493274/1 "2009-04-16T09:48:22Z")
I hope someone can help me with this one, I’m stumped at the moment: Platform: Windows 2008 Server (Web edition) Account: Not local admin, but member of the local admins group. Folder: c:\inetpub (but also seems to affect all folders outside my profile) When I try to save changes to a file or do a save as I get an error message saying that the file could not be created. It’s case 2 from this MS article, that deals with the hosts file: [Can't modify the Hosts or Lmhosts file - Windows Server | Microsoft Learn](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923947/en) MS tells you to run your app as administrator and save from there, but that’s not practical long term. The other way I have found is to create files in my profile, then drag them into the folder. Again, not practical for large amounts of files. Anyone know a proper resolution to this? the local admins group has Full Control and ownership of the folder in question. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-server-2008-unable-to-create-or-edit-new-files/493274/2 "2009-04-16T13:02:00Z")
Have you checked your account’s effective permissions on the subfolder you’re trying to write to? ---
**Author:** ![GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GSV_Consolation_of_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-server-2008-unable-to-create-or-edit-new-files/493274/3 "2009-04-16T13:40:45Z")
Just did… all access rights are enabled. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-server-2008-unable-to-create-or-edit-new-files/493274/4 "2009-04-16T14:58:11Z")
Are any access rights **disabled**? Are you accessing the file locally or via a share? ---
**Author:** ![GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GSV_Consolation_of_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-server-2008-unable-to-create-or-edit-new-files/493274/5 "2009-04-16T18:13:35Z")
No rights were disabled that I could see in the effective permissions window. I’m accessing the folder locally. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-server-2008-unable-to-create-or-edit-new-files/493274/6 "2009-04-16T22:25:53Z")
So what happens when you use the actual administrator account? Vista has a special hidden account which manages these sort of things and I’m wondering if 2008 Server has the same. After all, they both share the same kernel. ---
**Author:** ![GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GSV_Consolation_of_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-server-2008-unable-to-create-or-edit-new-files/493274/7 "2009-04-17T07:26:42Z")
When I use the actual Administrator account, everything works fine. I can create and edit files everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GSV_Consolation_of_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-server-2008-unable-to-create-or-edit-new-files/493274/8 "2009-04-17T08:52:58Z")
Eureka! UAC. As soon as I turned it off and rebooted… no more problem. Turns out that MS in their wisdom disabled admin rights for admins by default. That’s a special kind of genius, BillG. Thanks for your suggestions **Quartz** and **yoyodyne**