CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#file.net-4.0delete-filepermission-denied
SilverLight
SilverLight

Reputation: 20468

How Delete A Windows 7 dll File (In System32 Folder) By C# Language

Sometimes I need to delete or replace a dll file in system32 folder of windows 7.
The code below always has Permission Denied Error : 

            if (File.Exists(@"C:\Windows\system32\mydll.dll"))
            {
                fileInfo.IsReadOnly = false;
                File.Delete(@"C:\Windows\system32\mydll.dll");
            }

How can I bypass this error and replace a file in system32 folder?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 10680

Answers (2)

Elmo
Elmo

Reputation: 6471

if (File.Exists(@"C:\Windows\System32\mydll.dll"))
{
    new Process() { StartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo("cmd.exe", @"/k takeown /f C:\Windows\System32\mydll.dll && icacls C:\Windows\System32\mydll.dll /grant %username%:F") }.Start();
    File.Delete(@"C:\Windows\System32\mydll.dll");
}

Note that you can't delete a system DLL like shell32.dll even after taking ownership but you can rename or move it.

Upvotes: 2

Hans Passant
Hans Passant

Reputation: 941744

A user doesn't have sufficient rights to delete files from c:\windows\system32 on Windows Vista and up. Even when logged-on using an administrator account. UAC puts a stop to it. You must ask for elevation to let the user know that you are about to tinker with the private parts. That requires embedding a manifest in your program to trigger the UAC prompt. This answer shows you how.

Upvotes: 2

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