Can't remove read only attribute on folders

[Robert]

I am new to XP but experienced with 2000, NT, 9x et al. I
can't seem to be able to remove the read only attribute on
folders and get it to take. All new folders created seem
to have the read only attribute set. I have
administrative priviledges. Very curious. Can anyone
help?

Robert
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Guest]

Is your user profile set as Administrator

What folders are you attempting to modify?

 

[David Candy]

It's not. Windows won't tell you or allow you to change read only on folders. It's none of the users business.

 

[Carrie Garth]

| in message | I am new to XP but experienced with 2000, NT, 9x et al. I
| can't seem to be able to remove the read only attribute on
| folders and get it to take. All new folders created seem
| to have the read only attribute set. I have
| administrative priviledges. Very curious. Can anyone
| help?

To change the attribibute use the command line (cmd.exe) with the
attribute command (attrib). For example:

E:\Temp>attrib "New Folder"
R E:\Temp\New Folder

E:\Temp>attrib "New Folder" -r

E:\Temp>attrib "New Folder"
E:\Temp\New Folder

And here are some quotes from a Microsoft Knowledge Base Article
about the read-only attribute in Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (Home, Server 2003, etc.) as it applies to folders:

KB326549 - You Cannot View or Change the Read-Only or
System Attribute of Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?Product=winxp&scid=kb;en-us;326549

"the Read-only attribute for a folder is typically ignored by
Windows, Windows components and accessories, and other programs.
<SNIP> The Read-only and System attributes is only used by
Windows Explorer to determine whether the folder is a special
folder, such as a system folder that has its view customized by
Windows <SNIP>"

"The Read-only check box for folders is not available because it
does not apply to the folder. <SNIP> To determine the attributes
that are set on a folder, or to change these attributes, you must
use the Attrib command from a command prompt."

RELATED INFORMATION:

For a "Command-line reference A-Z" search the Windows XP
Professional Help and Support Center for the words in
double-quotes and read the Suggested Topic by that title.

To configure the command prompt so that you can type the first
few letters of a file or folder name, and then use TAB on the
keyboard to automatically complete the file or folder name see
the following Microsoft Knowledge Base Article:

KB310530 - HOW TO: Use Automatic Completion with a Command
Prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?Product=winxp&scid=kb;en-us;310530

To configure Windows Explorer so that you can right-click a
folder, select an option from the context menu, and have the
command prompt open to that folder, see the following Web Site
and download CmdHere.exe

Windows XP Professional | Downloads
Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP
Open Command Window Here
CmdHere.exe
514 KB file
2 min @ 28.8 Kbps
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

Alternatively, see the following column for a method to manually
add the "CMD Prompt Here" right-click option to the Directory and
Drive program classes.

Windows XP Home | Columns
Columns Archive | Jerry Honeycutt
Tweaking Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer
SECTION: Open Command Prompts at Folder Level
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/expertzone/columns/honeycutt/03june09.asp

Or if you would like this "Command Here" tool and many other
useful tools that streamline management tasks, download and
install the following Resource Kit Tools which includes
Cmdhere.inf. To install the "Command Here" tool right-click
cmdhere.inf and select Install on the shortcut menu.

Microsoft Download Center: Download details
Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...69-57ff-4ae7-96ee-b18c4790cffd&DisplayLang=en

Microsoft Documentation | Tools and Settings Collection
Introduction to Resource Kit Tools
Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools Help
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...wsServ/2003/all/techref/en-us/rk_in_intro.asp

Microsoft Documentation | Tools and Settings Collection
Resource Kit Tools Help | Alphabetical List of Tools
Cmdhere.inf: Command Here
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windowsServ/2003/all/techref/en-us/cmdhere.asp

 

[mortb]

It was possible to select/deselect readonly in win2k.
This new beahviour is sooooooo confusing and so *not* good design.
If we users are not allowed to set this flag why display it as a check box
at all????
I've spent several unfruitfull minutes trying to uncheck this box

 

[David Candy]

Read Only has no meaning on folders, folders CAN'T be read only. But because folders are files with a special attribute set (Directory and there is also volume label attribute) the space is there for it.

When MS needed another attribute for folders in NT4/Win 95 they used the unused read only. Explorer is the only program that uses this (it is still meaningless to the file system).

It's there to allow changing of read only on files in the folder.

Because too many people try and remove it from folders, and they tend not to read the specs (I've only glanced at them) so they do this thinking it means read only. Removing read only prevents folders acting as other programs (eg Temp Internet Files will show files rather than starting the Temporary Internet Files viewer, Fonts will show files rather than load the fonts viewer and installer [so can't install fonts], and it goes on with Favourites, History, Task Scheduler, etc).

 

[mortb]

Yes, I'm one of the people who hasn't read the specs, and I'm not too
familiar with the details of the NTFS.
I get the concept that folders can't be read only, but the function of the
read only checkbox in the folder
properties seems so obvious and it's very confusing that you can change it
but the next time you open the
properties it is reset.

Why display it as a checkbox when it's not possible to change? It could be a
label instead just displaying read only or not.

 

[David Candy]

It is greyed out (or would be if you weren't using the scheme for the colour blind). Click it three times to see it's three states. It is saying indeterminate, not set or unset. It changes the attributes of files in the folder.

 

[mortb]

Thank you for your time and answers

....though I still think its behaviour is odd...

It is greyed out (or would be if you weren't using the scheme for the colour
blind). Click it three times to see it's three states. It is saying
indeterminate, not set or unset. It changes the attributes of files in the
folder.

 

[David Candy]

But people kept breaking their computers by playing with it.

 

[David Candy]

These are all old things. XP security does have permissions which you can make things read only or execute only or write only. But this is nothing to do with attributes. Attributes does make a file read only, but not folders.

 

[David F. Schrader]

Coming into the middle of this I'd like to take an
alternative position (perhaps, since I'm coming in
in the middle and haven't seen all that went on in
this before, but...).

Mightn't "Read/Only" be a means of controlling
security? Having a "bit" the allows you to deny
the person the ability to "Read" what's there
might allow you to make the files execute only.

Might that be an alternative option? (If you've
gone around on this already I apologize.)

David

(And I don't advocate screwing around and
breaking things. 'Tis not a wise thing to do.)


But people kept breaking their computers by playing with it.