Files showing up as "Read Only" and unable to change this.

Anonymous
2009-11-11T02:03:39+00:00

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?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2009-11-11T19:45:12+00:00

Hi GoodfellaJC,

Welcome to Microsoft Answers.

Follow the steps mentioned below.

Step 1:

To view or to remove the Read-only or the System attributes of folders in Windows Vista or Windows 7

1.      Click Start, click Run, type cmd and then press ENTER.

2.      To view the syntax for the Attrib command, type attrib /? at the command prompt.

To remove the Read-only attribute and to set the System attribute, use the following command:****

attrib -r +s drive:<path><foldername>

For example, to remove the Read-only attribute and to set the System attribute for the C:\Test folder, use the following command:

attrib -r +s c:\test

Be aware that some programs may not operate correctly with folders for which the System attribute and the Read-only attribute are set. Therefore, use the following command to remove these attributes:

attrib -r -s drive:<path><foldername>

For example, to remove both the Read-only and the System attributes from the C:\Test folder, use the following command:

attrib -r -s c:\test

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.

For further reference check the article mentioned below.

You cannot view or change the Read-only or the System attributes of folders in Windows Server 2003, in Windows XP, in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326549

Hope this information is helpful.

Thank you and Regards.           

Thahaseena M

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer.

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-09-18T08:58:50+00:00

    Let me guess after reading this long song and dance. 

    Microsoft the Corp. Does not want people to know how to actually set the file and or folder attributes. 

    BUT, someone out here in internet land has figured it out and has figured out how to send a teeny tiny little embedded command to our machines and has set the read only attributes on some or all folders. 

    And you fellas and or ladies have been instructed to strictly not tell folks straight up how to fix this issue, because then you have an even bigger disaster on your hands, you have no way to protect our machines from this script or whatever it is that's doing it. At least not without shutting off a lot of other things in the process. 

    Am I at least warm?

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-10-14T23:31:35+00:00

    On Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:14:28 +0000, MasterBucks wrote:

    In every single post regarding the issue of READ ONLY ATTRIBUTES... the support engineer has given a solution which has failed. Usually the same old__ of taking ownership and/or running command line attrib -r etc etc.

    I too have this problem, none of the solutions given are working for so many of us... yet the support engineer continues to give exactly the same advice which is simply not working!!!

    You say "files," but are you talking about files or folders?

    Assuming that you mean folders, they may appear to be marked

    read-only, but they are not read-only. The read-only attribute doesn't

    apply to folders. You can't change it, because there's nothing to

    change.

    Ken Blake

    Okay Ken...you want to play...let's play.

    OS: Windows 10

    Office version: 2010 as I refuse to update to the more modern ones and not be able to work from multiple documents or have it neat on my task bar

    My problem is all my documents are on my cloud drive, and whenever this bloody thing wakes up from hibernation ANY document that does not have a saved file name INSTANTLY becomes read only in Microsoft word, even in the cloud drive files, all of the folders are set to Read Only.

    That attrib **** did not work as it tells me "File not found" when I can see the bloody files in Explorer. but I know it goes away whenever I reboot this tower. so can you get off of your derriere and find a solution to this problem? as you're lucky I'm not a college student and this being for my term paper in a course as I'd be on you like White on rice. and if you're going to give me a transparent answer, make sure i can't see through it like a chiffon prom dress in the rain.

    I mapped my cloud drive folders with drive letters as it's the only way I could call them up from Word and use them like normal drives.

    So what's it gonna be, you gonna cough up something or do I have to copy the file, paste it to a new document, close the old one, open the old one back out and then highlight everything in it and paste the changes into it?

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-05-29T03:01:28+00:00

    Hi, Oceanchild.

    Several years ago, Microsoft changed the meaning of the "Read Only" attribute as it applies to folders - but this change was so unpublicized that many users still do not realize that anything has happened. For details, see this KB article:

    You cannot view or change the Read-only or the System attributes of folders in Windows Server 2003, in Windows XP, in Windows Vista or in Windows 7+

    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3BEN-US%3B326549

    The bottom line is that the Read Only flag for folders is meaningless and useless for most of us.

    RC

    "Oceanchild" wrote in message news:af8213e4-e346-4867-9935-34c3b9fc861f...

    Same problem with Windows 7 Home premium.

    I have software wich needs to have access to folders and write tags for the files in them, but due to read only default setting for folders it can't be done, and I'm braking my brain on this problem already for 2 days.

    Tried to follow steps as prescribed by Thahaseena M but without any results. Seems like there is some mistake, or I am doing something wrong. I just need to make some folders on external HDD as normal, not Read Only.

    R. C. White, CPA Microsoft Windows MVP

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-05-28T10:32:56+00:00

    Same problem with Windows 7 Home premium.

    I have software wich needs to have access to folders and write tags for the files in them, but due to read only default setting for folders it can't be done, and I'm braking my brain on this problem already for 2 days.

    Tried to follow steps as prescribed by Thahaseena M but without any results. Seems like there is some mistake, or I am doing something wrong. I just need to make some folders on external HDD as normal, not Read Only.

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    0 comments