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Here is my problem.

I have lost my Win10 password and in search of solutions plugged in the hard drive with the Windows10 into another machine with another OS. However, I discovered that I am unable to change system files, even as an administrator or root. There are writable files on the disk, so I think it is some feature of NTFS file system. Also, unwritable files are readable, so they aren't encrypted. But shouldn't another OS have the whole disk writable? How is this possible and how to remove the write protection? I have tried editing files in Windows\System32\ on WinXP, Win7 and Linux. Thank you for the answer.

Name Second
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  • First of all, welcome to Super User! If you don't mind me asking, *why* are you trying to edit files in the `Windows\System32` folder? – Run5k Jul 03 '18 at 21:40
  • See my answer here...https://superuser.com/a/247953/40928 – Moab Jul 03 '18 at 21:41
  • I am trying to edit security files and .exe files. Trying to figure out how things work. – Name Second Jul 03 '18 at 21:42
  • Thanks, Moab, but my primary goal is understanding the problem. That OS holds no valueble files, so hard-resetting it will also do for me. – Name Second Jul 03 '18 at 21:45
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    The reason you can't access the disc is probably that the OS is hibernated, which is the default for Shut Down. If you start up, then _Restart_ from the log-on screen, you can stop it when the UEFI/BIOS appears: then the system will be fully shut down and you should be able access it from another OS. – AFH Jul 03 '18 at 21:58
  • The dupe does provide not an answer (as it currently stands), it covers up to Win8 but not Win10, at least none of the answers address it. – pbhj Jul 15 '19 at 08:59

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