Cannot change READ ONLY file attributes using Administrator Account

Anonymous
2009-10-31T21:41:55+00:00

I have tried windows explorer and a custom program called Directory Opus. I have tried creating several administrator accounts but no luck.

I cannot work with this problem existing.

I need a solution.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2010-02-27T20:39:32+00:00

I have the exact same issue.  Following the steps above did not work, the folder/subfolders remain Read-Only.  I am the owner of the folder and subfolders.  I'm not even sure how they became Read-Only to begin with.  Setting Read-Only on individual files works properly.  Changing folder settings does not.

***IMPORTANT EDIT:

According to a Microsoft Knowledge Base post:

You cannot view or change the Read-only or the System attributes of folders

To summarize, Windows ignores System or Read-Only settings on folders (it does not ignore those properties on FILES however).  Individual applications that you are running may not ignore the Read-Only status on a folder and may give an error.  In my situation, an application was attempting to create a new file in a folder that was marked as Read-Only and it honored the RO setting and refused to try to create the new file.

To actually change these attributes, the Properties menu will not work.  From the KB source:

  • If you click Apply changes to this folder only , the Read-only attribute is changed for all the files in the folder. However, the Read-only attribute is not changed for the folder, its subfolders, or any files in its subfolders. If you click Apply changes to this folder, subfolders, and files , the Read-only attribute is changed for all files in the folder and all files in the subfolders. However, the Read-only attribute is not changed for the folder or its subfolders.

In order to change these properties, the user must launch a command line terminal and execute the changes by hand, such as this command:

  • attrib -r +s c:\test

...which will remove the READ-ONLY setting and apply the SYSTEM setting to the folder.  Once again, changing properties of files (including files in subfolders) works as expected with the right-click Properties -> Security menu.

Knowledge Base source:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326549

Bad support, MS.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-04-28T19:35:32+00:00

    This problem just appeared on my SERVER 2008 and  none of the above recommendations work.

    It appears that my drive attributes are being set by SYSTEM. Does anyone have a suggestion as to where a SYSTEM setting would change the entire drive to read-only? Prior to 4/27/2015 I did not have this problem.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-04-24T16:31:16+00:00

    I seriously think  MICROSOFT going down on the sink slowly,  I even try to comment on this site after login been directed to an other site, could not stay on the same page search for 5 minutes to get back here, it is just ****. On a graphical user interface can not change a read only box, unbelivable.  I used to it how the administrator account been limited again and again after win 98 , win 2000 , xp and win7.IT IS STUPID if I purchase this **** I could except to work and not. My laptop is my hardware, my software paid for it except to work   but not workinG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND the limitations what MS does, will make them die one day, remember me! When I am administrator it is mean I can , I should van administer anything if I want to change a system32 folder to be a webserver folder I could do it! It is my responsibility. Or do it a different way CALL it SUPERadmin, but must be able to do anything I mean

    A N Y T H IN G   whatever I wan to.  and You see on the microsoft page no any employee can tell me properly what to do!   STUPID! I think next year I will collect all this **** in one page and I will advertise it on YOUTUBE.

    Thank for the help microsoft,  I could moove this website folder to a linux where I am still able to edit it the priviliges!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ******@gmail.com

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-02-07T20:24:24+00:00

    I need to remove the "read only" property on "USER" folders.  Of course I do NOT need to make Windows System Folders read only!!

    The problem remails - evidently no one knows how to remove the "read only" property from a "USER" folder!!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-02-07T15:43:58+00:00

    I was enable to change any of the attributes in c:\program files* so I reinstalled the program in my Documents\apps directory and that seems to work.

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