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
    2014-12-26T13:29:40+00:00

    I had the same problem. Didn't understand how to use the command line. Not great support as it doesn't tell you how to use the command line.

    However, I worked out that the files I was trying to change were saved under another user, as it was files backed up from an older computer. I copied them into the adminsitrator's user files and it worked ok.

    Might be the same for you?

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-11-25T20:31:36+00:00

    Change the security tab giving full control works for me. I was with the same problem.

    Yeah, that's the first thing I tried, it does not work after over 100 attempts.  Problem remains, as it is stated in the thread above.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-11-25T16:39:38+00:00

    Change the security tab giving full control works for me. I was with the same problem.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-09-06T14:12:15+00:00

    I share everyone's frustration with this arrogant software development attitude of Microsoft.  I am **** because I paid for this ****.....Linux is my next stop.

    Anyway, I did the 'attrib -r +s filepath solution..  It does not remove the read-only attribute but it does allow me to create files in those directories.

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