Change from read only

[Daj]

Hi
How do I change a folder from read only to read and write? I have a folder I
want to rename, but it won't let me as it is read only.Every time I remove
the check mark and click apply OK, it changed back to read only. I used to
know how this is done but can't remember. I remember I can't do it by
removing the check mark in properties. Any help will be appreciated. Win XP
Home.
daj

 

[Talahassee]

Hi
How do I change a folder from read only to read and write? I have a folder I
want to rename, but it won't let me as it is read only.Every time I remove
the check mark and click apply OK, it changed back to read only. I used to
know how this is done but can't remember. I remember I can't do it by
removing the check mark in properties. Any help will be appreciated. Win XP
Home.
daj

You should be allowed to rename a folder,

presuming you aren't trying to rename a system folder (one that
Windows installed).

If you are trying to rename a system folder (one that Windows
installed when you installed your copy of Windows), you can't;
Microsoft's engineers built into the design a failsafe that keeps you
from mucking up their system by renaming system-critical stuff.

If it's not a system folder, you may need to do a System Restore.

It's found in the Start button.
Start/all programs/system tools/system restore.

I am assuming you know how to restore.

I have a similar problem as you are describing at times, and a system
restore (I usually use Norton's Go Back routine (Norton System
Utilities 2003) for this purpose.

Come to think of it, I'm not sure you can do a restore on XP Home.

You should also download some Registry repair/cleaning utilities such
as Registry Washer or Reg Cleaner.

These can be found on www.download.com

Whenever you find these system "bugs", you can often eradicate them
with a good registry cleaning/repair.

Old timers like me typically refer to this situation as an "invisible
crash". Your computer APPEARS to be working, but different functions
that were working an hour ago, or yesterday, no longer work.

I'll be right in the middle of typing something in here or another
group, and suddenly my mouse or my cursor will freeze up. Or it won't
save/post.

I can do a dozen other things, and then the keyboard will freeze
momentarily.

That's typical of an "invisible crash."


Look for PC Bug Doctor as well. IT's Xlent!

" A clean PC is a happy PC."

Good luck!

Tallahassee.

 

[NewScience]

Folders are technically ALWAYS read/write, even if the attribute is set to
read in Properties.
Check the Security Permissions on the folder, by setting Tools | Folder
Options and uncheck Use Simple File Sharing...

It also depends on the folder. Microsoft has set certain folders to be
read-only purposely ... so be careful.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

How do I change a folder from read only to read and write?

Folders are never read-only and the read-only attribute is ignored for
folders.

I have a
folder I want to rename, but it won't let me as it is read only

That's not the reason. What folder are you trying to rename?

Every
time I remove the check mark and click apply OK, it changed back to
read only.

You are seeing a "gray" read-only check, not a black one. The gray check
mark means "not applicable."

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Windows Explorer does NOT allow you to view or change a folder's Read-only
or System attribute. Changing these attributes can break special folders
and screw up any of your folder customizations. You can ONLY view or change
a folder's Read-only or System attributes by using the attrib command.

Read-only for folders does not mean Read-only like it does with files.

A file that is marked Read-only can be read, but it cannot be changed or
deleted.

You can delete, rename, move or change a folder that has the Read-only
attribute set. But if it's a System folder, you'll get a Warning.

See this...

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308421

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Daj]

I can't find "Simple file sharing"
The folder I want to rename has nothing but pictures in it, but has a file
named "RECYCLER" and it won't delete, I get an error mwssage that it can't
be deleted. I beleive that is the reason forr not allowing me to rename the
folder. What is "recycler" and how would I get rid of it?
daj

 

[Wesley Vogel]

What is "recycler" and how would I get rid of it?

RECYCLER is normally the Recycle Bin on drives that are formatted NTFS and
it is a folder not a file.

What is the file extension for RECYCLER if it is a file?

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check: Hide extensions for known file types |
Click Apply | Click OK

Can you see a file extension now after RECYCLER? A file extension is the
characters after the dot in a filename, for example, text.txt. The .txt
is the file extension.

%systemdrive%\RECYCLER\Your SID # is YOUR Recycle Bin.

The Recycler folder is used only on NTFS formatted drives. It's a Hidden
folder.

%systemdrive%\RECYCLER
With at least one folder
SID #
for every user on the machine.

If there is only one user, then there is only one
SID # folder. That SID # folder is the Recycle Bin.

Security identifiers (SIDs) are numeric values that identify a user or
group.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In