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
    2014-02-04T18:15:49+00:00

    To fix this error. 

    1. Go to Control Panel>Users and create a new Administrator Account.
    2. Reboot Computer and login using the new Profile.
    3. Go to the location of the files and they should not be read only anymore.
    4. Transfer all files to the new profile folders and delete the old profile.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-02-11T15:54:45+00:00

    Looks good - but does not work!

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-07-12T20:37:24+00:00

    There was a post back in 2011 that fixed the issue for me. I'm going to repeat it here for those like me who have just gotten around to installing Win7. This concerns Word 2003 downloading previously saved doc files as read-only.

    "I had to change the security on the folder the documents were in to make this madness stop.  (Right click on folder, choose properties, choose security.  In there I found my profile and edited it to "allow" me to do everything in that folder.)"

    Hope this helps someone else!

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-07-28T22:41:14+00:00

    Question to RC White  This post is old, but I am having the same problem with Win 7 pro 64.  Do not have Office but tried to access a Win 7 system with a Win XP system.  File went Read Only, and can not change it back.

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