Add "Take Ownership" to right-click menu in Vista

The first step is to create a registry file. You can do this by opening Notepad (Start >> All Programs >> Accessories >> Notepad) and copying and pasting the following:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\runas] @="Take Ownership" "Extended"="" "NoWorkingDirectory"="" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\runas\command] @="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F" "IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas] @="Take Ownership" "Extended"="" "NoWorkingDirectory"="" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\runas\command] @="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t" "IsolatedCommand"="cmd.exe /c takeown /f \"%1\" /r /d y && icacls \"%1\" /grant administrators:F /t"

Save the file with the name Ownership.reg and close Notepad.
Double-click your Ownership.reg file to apply it to the registry.
You will have to grant access, click Continue: (unless you Disable UAC)

The registry editor will give you a security prompt, click Yes.

You will be greeted with the following message from the registry editor, click Ok:

When you hold shift and right-click on a file or folder you will have the option of changing the ownership.

Please note that before the ownership will be changed, you must grant access, click Continue.

In order to verify that the “Take Ownership" dialog successfully processed, you can right-click on a file, choose Properties and then choose Details and you will see the “Owner” section changed to COMPUTERNAME\USERNAME.