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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

300+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

77 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2012-03-28T19:32:51+00:00

    I HAVE NEVER USED NOTEPAD. I ONLY USE "WORD". AND I FIXED THE PROBLEM LONG AGO. THANKS ANYWAY,

                                                  ALFREDO

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2012-04-12T20:02:06+00:00

    I have 64-bit Windows 7 Ultima, setup a web server in inetpub folder, copied vBulletin to it, but I'm not able to change anything in the folder because I keep getting Access Denied errors.  I have read all he posts in this thread and nothing helps.  The Read Only attribute is NOT set on the file I want to change but I still get Access Denied.  And yes, I'm Administrator/PC-owner.

    I'm to the point that I'm seriously considering ditching Windows 7 and replacing it with *nix.  Windows 7 is a nice OS but useless if we can not change files.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2013-01-03T12:29:31+00:00

    I've had this problem this morning.  Like you I'd have quite happily thrown my computer out of the window.  Despite User Accounts being off, taking ownership of the file, windows was still telling me I needed permission, from myself, to delete the file.

    What I did was start my computer in safe mode. (Press start button, type msconfig and select from the menu, click on boot tab and tick safe boot.  Windows will offer to restart, go with that) Once in safe mode you should be able to delete your file.  Safe mode gives you super admin priveledges.  Open msconfig again and ucheck safe boot and windows will then boot normally.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2013-02-07T23:18:35+00:00

    Here's what worked for me (nothing else posted on here worked, although it may have been a prerequisite).  In the securities tab under properties, I hit "edit" and added a new group called "Everyone" or "Authenticated Users" (either one worked but I went with "Authenticated Users" for security purposes ) and gave the group full permissions.

    I'm retarded when it comes to computers.  This worked for me but I've messed with my computer a lot now, so it may have been a combination of actions that worked.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments