Why is access to the path denied?

Question

I am having a problem where I am trying to delete my file but I get an exception.

if (result == "Success")
{
     if (FileUpload.HasFile)
     {
         try
         {
              File.Delete(Request.PhysicalApplicationPath + app_settings.login_images + txtUploadStatus.Text);
              string filename = Path.GetFileName(btnFileUpload.FileName);
              btnFileUpload.SaveAs(Request.PhysicalApplicationPath + app_settings.login_images + filename);
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
               Message(ex.ToString());
         }
      }
}

Also I should note that the folder I am trying to delete from has full control to network services.

The full exception message is:

System.UnauthorizedAccessException: Access to the path 'C:\Users\gowdyn\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\hybrid\hybrid\temp_loginimages\enviromental.jpg' is denied. at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath) at System.IO.File.Delete(String path) at hybrid.User_Controls.Imgloader_Add_Edit_Tbl.btnUpdate_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e) in C:\Users\gowdyn\Documents\Visual Studio 2008\Projects\hybrid\hybrid\User_Controls\Imgloader_Add_Edit_Tbl.ascx.cs:line 242

Any ideas?

Answer 1

I had this error thrown when I tried to rename a folder very rapidly after it had been either moved or created.

A simple System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(500); solved it:

void RenameFile(string from, string to)
{
   try
   {   
      System.IO.File.Move(from, to)      
   }   
   catch 
   {  
       System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(500);      
       RenameFile(from, to);      
   }   
}

Answer 2

An UnauthorizedAccessException exception is thrown when the operating system denies access because of an I/O error or a security error.

If you are attempting to access a file or registry key, make sure it is not read-only.

Answer 3

I had the exact error when deleting a file. It was a Windows Service running under a Service Account which was unable to delete a .pdf document from a Shared Folder even though it had Full Control of the folder.

What worked for me was navigating to the Security tab of the Shared Folder > Advanced > Share > Add.

I then added the service account to the administrators group, applied the changes and the service account was then able to perform all operations on all files within that folder.

Answer 4

This is an old issue, but I ran into it while searching. Turns out that I was missing the actual filename component in the save path for SaveAs...

string uploadPath = Server.MapPath("~/uploads");
file.SaveAs(uploadPath); // BAD
file.SaveAs(Path.Combine(uploadPath, file.FileName)); // GOOD

Answer 5

Check your files properties. If the read-only is checked, uncheck it. This was my personal issue with the UnauthorizedAccessException.