Dear Robert, this info is helpful.  I managed to take care of the problem I had with the "Read Only". It appears that I had been filing the document in a controlled access folder and any Excel folder I placed in that file opened as "Read Only".  When I moved that same file out of the access controlled folder, not only myself, but others could open the file and it did not read "Read Only." 

Thank you for sharing the above info.  I hope I don't have this problem again, but I'm so glad to have a community of helpers to get help from.

Thank you all.

Excellent, Thahaseena. Thank you.

This was necessary for me:

If the Run command is not listed on the Start menu, do the following:

Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories and then click Run.

I did have to use the attrib -r -s c:\testcommand.

Brilliant.

Our problem started by accesses the Windows 7 machine with a Windows XP machine.  We also had extremely slow internet.  I am not sure if either of those affected our situation.  We were accessing a database on the Windows 7 machine using the XP machine, and the files were actually not accessible (Not just grayed out).  Then trying them from the Windows 7 machine they were no longer accessible.  The slow internet seemed to effect our ethernet network data rate.  We have upgraded our internet, and have not been brave enough to use the XP machine with the database again.  The taking ownership instructions will come in very handy.

I have Windows 7 Ultimate. A couple of weeks ago I had a big issue with some of my user permissions being changed (not sure how I did it but it happened) so i was unable to access programs and files, after some time with a MS tech on chat and a system restore (unsucessful), I just created a new user account and deleted the old one.

Everything seems to be working fine now, however before I created the new user account I copied some files I had on the desktop to a flash drive and put them with my new user desktop. The file property keep showing up as "Read only" even after unchecking the box and applying it just reverts when I close it.

This also happens when I create a new folder on the desktop, its default property is "Read Only" - why would this be, and how can i change it?

I GOT IT!!!! after 3 hours hehe

All those "attrb" never works with me, do this and it will works:

When looking at Folder Properties, the Read Only (RO) box will ALWAYS be shaded (With a Classic Theme it will be a grayed check).

This box does not indicate the current attributes of the folder, or the files it contains. Instead, it shows what action will be taken when you click Apply or OK.

• If Checked, the RO attribute will be set.
• If unchecked, the RO attribute will be unset.
• If shaded (blobbed) there will be no change.

As noted, this only applies to Files in the folder, it will not change the RO attribute on a folder. That has to be done from the Command Prompt.

Adding the Attributes column in Details view, or using the attrib command in a Command Prompt (or comparable command in VBScript/jscript/etc) is the only way to see the current setting of the RO attribute on a folder.

To take ownership of the drive and reset permissions:

Right click the drive, click Properties.

Click the Security tab.

Click the Advanced button (not the Edit button).

Click the Owner tab.

Click the Edit button.

Highlight your username.

Check the box for Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.

Click OK to close each dialog until it begins applying permissions.

If you get any errors, click Continue.

When done, close the Properties dialog. It must be closed and re-opened.

Right click the drive, click Properties.

Click the Security tab.

Click the Advanced button (not the Edit button).

Click the Permissions tab.

Click the Change Permissions button.

Add your account if needed.

If Administrators, System, and your account do not show Full Control for This folder, subfolder, and files, highlight each and click Edit.

Change the permissions to Full Control, and the Apply to: box to This folder, subfolder, and files.

The Users group should have three entries:

1. Read & Execute for This folder, subfolder, and files.
2. Create folders / append data for This folder and subfolders.
3. Special for Subfolders only

Select/add each one and set the Apply to: box as needed.

Use this list to set the permissions.

1. Full Control
2. Traverse folder / execute file
3. List folder / read data
4. Read attributes
5. Read extended attributes
6. Create files / write data
7. Create folders / append data
8. Write attributes
9. Write extended attributes
10. Delete subfolders and files
11. Delete
12. Read permissions
13. Change permissions
14. Take ownership

For Read & Execute, check #'s 2, 3, 4, 5, and 12 only.

For Create folders / append data check

7 only.

For Special check # 6 only.

Everyone should have one entry shown as Special. It will have the same permissions as the Users Read & Execute except Apply to: is This folder only.

Creator Owner should have one entry shown as Special. It will have Full Control permissions and Apply to: is Subfolders and files only.

OK back to the Permissions tab if needed and check the box for Replace all child permissions with inheritable permissions from this object.

You'll get a warning that explicitly defined permissions will be removed. Click Yes to continue.

If you get any errors, just click Continue.