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
    2011-12-22T15:23:39+00:00

    It took 4 different forums on the Microsoft site to find the answer to this problem. But here it is. Why do you even provide a read only check box if it doesn't work any more? Just to **** people off?

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-12-19T07:26:08+00:00

    I tried several solutions offered on Microsoft websites and at first one of them seemed to help, but the strange thing is that the problem occurs again later on. I work on a htm-file in a html-editor, save it regularly and then suddenly the read-only attribute prevents saving the file. I could not save the file with MS Word either. Everyday I have to change names of files. Is there something else I can do?

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-12-02T19:53:33+00:00

    Hey RyanSpeakman1444,

    If the steps above didnt solve your issue, I would suggest you start a new thread in the link provided below. Remeber to include all details on your system and what you are seeing. Thanks!

    New Thread Link

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-11-27T00:45:16+00:00

    Hi Umesh, Ive just followed your tips to change users to give them full control however it STILL wont let me uncheck the read only box, what can I do?

    the computer just keeps ignoring every request to give me, the owner, administrator, and only user of this computer acces to folders which are mine, im getting very frustrated now, it SHOULD NOT be this hard to change a folder from a read only for Gods sake.

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