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

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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
    2014-08-22T04:59:53+00:00

    **22 August 2014 - Yes, as I just learned, this problem has existed for over five (5) years and Microsoft has not attempted to provide a solution.**On August 19, 2014 I was notified that there were "Important" Windows updates available so when I reached a stopping point I accepted the updates to Win 7 Pro 64 bit. Prior to the update I had no problem with the Read Only attribute**. After the update all folders from C:/Users on down had the attribute changed to Read Only.

    I have been searching for well over three hours and everywhere I find the same information ... this problem has existed since 2009 and Microsoft is fully aware but has offered no solution. It doesn't matter if I am an administrator, that's not the issue. It is the Read Only attribute on EVERY folder.

    I tried resetting the attribute so it is not Read Only and then going to a resotre point for my files but as soon as I try to write a file to a folder its attribute is changed back to Read Only and I get an error when trying to write the file from the restore point to the folder.

    Microsoft engineers - don't you have pride in your product? Why do you allow things to get this bad? Why don't you at least acknowledge the problem that many Windows users are now experiencing? This is taking up hours of my time and it seems like thousands of others are also affected.

    **Full disclosure - at times over the past two years with Windows 7 I have had a folder attribute "spontaneously" change to Read Only, however, all I had to do was change it back with one click of my mouse and the problem did not reappear. And only one folder was affected.

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