subject: What Are Windows Ntfs Directory Permissions [print this page] What is NTFS?: What is NTFS?:
The New Technology File System (NTFS) was first introduced by Microsoft in 1993 with the Windows NT 3.1. platform. NTFS supports hard drive sizes up to 256TB. It is the primary file system used in Microsoft's Windows 7, Vista, Windows 2000, and XP.
The very first thing the NTFS looks for is the partition boot sector which usually starts at sector 0 and can be up to 16 sectors long. From this point it looks for a whole system of files such as root name index, attribute definitions, master table file one and two, and so on. Each one of these has its own function and must be allocated within a specific order so the computer to properly boot up.
What are Windows NTFS directory permissions?:
The NTFS permissions are what allows certain users to access specific information, make changes to it, and/or delete it. This is a very important aspect of any operating system as many people who set up networks, whether at home or at work, never consider that there are internal ways of keeping their systems secure beyond just making sure the network itself is secure. You can actually go in and secure individual files as well as there some files.
Prior to NTFS the Filed Allocation Table (FAT) was the primary filing system in Microsoft's older operating systems. However, it is still supported today alongside NTFS. As matter of fact in most factory reinstalls of operating systems the user is given the option of selecting either the NTFS or FAT filing systems.
One thing to point out here concerning NTFS versus FAT is that NTFS is more secure. FAT, for the most part, have no security at all. There are little if any controls over permissions when it comes to accessing data or files. An example would be sharing information and data over a network. With FAT anyone would be able to open, edit, or delete the data contained therein.
Modifying Windows NTFS directory permissions:
In Windows 7 (as well as XP, and Vista) right-click on Windows Explorer (one of your file folders). Click Properties. Click the Security tab. Choose which group or username you would like to edit the permissions to. Then, select edit. Finally you would check or uncheck mark the permissions you wish to grant or deny.
The above instructions may vary slightly depending upon which operating system you are using at the time. In all operating systems from windows XP forward you would right-click on one of your folders, click Properties, then click on the Security tab and go from there.
