# Admin Approval to Delete
**URL:** https://resource.dopus.com/t/admin-approval-to-delete/38655
**Category:** Help & Support
**Created:** [June 5, 2021, 8:07pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/admin-approval-to-delete/38655 "2021-06-05T20:07:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@TomKrueger](https://resource.dopus.com/u/TomKrueger)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2021, 8:07pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/admin-approval-to-delete/38655/1 "2021-06-05T20:07:47Z")
I am evaluating Directory Opus to replace a no longer supported file manager.
I try to delete a file from an external drive and get the standard need to give admin permission... I click the yes and the file will not delete. Just for the heck of it, I use shift-delete to bypass the recycle bin and get an error, which I suspected.
I'm sure there's an easy answer to this, but I can't find it within the program or how else to give admin permission. Any help appreciated.
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### Author:  [@Leo](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Leo)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/admin-approval-to-delete/38655/2 "2021-06-05T20:09:44Z")
> [@TomKrueger](#):
>
> I use shift-delete to bypass the recycle bin and get an error, which I suspected.
What does the error message say?
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### Author:  [@TomKrueger](https://resource.dopus.com/u/TomKrueger)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2021, 10:06pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/admin-approval-to-delete/38655/3 "2021-06-05T22:06:56Z")
You need permission from SYSTEM to delete this file.
I'm able to delete other files from the same external drive. So it might be something to do with what I'm trying to delete - an old backup.
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### Author:  [@Jon](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Jon)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/admin-approval-to-delete/38655/4 "2021-06-05T22:13:44Z")
If the drive came from another computer originally, you might need to take ownership of the file before you'll be able to delete it.
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### Author:  [@TomKrueger](https://resource.dopus.com/u/TomKrueger)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2021, 10:18pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/admin-approval-to-delete/38655/5 "2021-06-05T22:18:44Z")
That's what I'm thinking. I moved them from an old machine to a new one about 3 weeks ago. Worse case scenario is to just reformat (or whatever the proper phrase is these days).
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### Author:  [@Leo](https://resource.dopus.com/u/Leo)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2021, 10:22pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/admin-approval-to-delete/38655/6 "2021-06-05T22:22:57Z")
If you don't want the data on the drive, formatting it is the easiest thing.
But if you do need the data and can't access it, or only need to delete some of it, here's how to take ownership of the folders:
> **[How to Take Ownership of Files and Folders in Windows](https://www.howtogeek.com/301768/how-to-take-ownership-of-files-and-folders-in-windows/)**
>
> If you’ve ever been denied access to a file or folder in Windows, chances are you need to take ownership of them with your user account. Here’s how.
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### Author:  [@TomKrueger](https://resource.dopus.com/u/TomKrueger)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2021, 11:07pm UTC](https://resource.dopus.com/t/admin-approval-to-delete/38655/7 "2021-06-05T23:07:38Z")
thank you