All folders are read-only!!!

[Guest]

Suddenly, one day all my folders were set to read-only. It seams that many
other have met this problem, since you can find extreamly meny forums with
posts about the read-only problem.

I've read a lot of them and I found this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326549/en-us

A really good description of my problem, I can't chance the read only
funktion. All the folders keeps being read only. No files, just the folders.
I've tried the "attrib -r +s c:\m" and the "attrib -r -s c:\m" to change the
settings to that folder, but the command doesn't work. I've also tried to
"attrib -r +s c:" and a lot of other things, but none of these commands
works.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421&Product=winxp
^^
This link tells me a bit, but the securety tab just doesn't excist no matter
what. Take a look at this: http://tb.gwakgroup.dk/EgenskaberForM.jpg
That's my screen, and it doesn't help to click at the "Skrivebeskyttet"
(Read-Only) dot and click apply, because it will be read-only agian next time
I check.

I am logged in as the administrator and have all rights.
Is there any way to solve this problem?


P.S: Since this problem came, the computer have been very slow starting up,
like 2 min before the boot screen, 2 min at the boot screen, 2 min black
screen, and 2 min starting up all programs and explorer; and then a program
called WinLockPro, that should lock things like the accesability to the
control panel, can be removed from the process list (used not to be
possible), and it's funktions is reset. (Ctrl+F11 and write password changed
to F11 and no password, and just a normal windows with normal abbilitys)

 

[Wesley Vogel]

No, all of your folders are *NOT* Read-only. Some of them are. Like
special folders and folders that you have customized.

Special Folders like:
Cookies, Control Panel, Desktop, Downloaded Program Files, Favorites, Fonts,
History, My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, My Videos, Recycle Bin, Shared
Documents, Shared Music, Shared Pictures, Shared Videos, SendTo, Start Menu,
Startup, Temporary Internet Files, etc.

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't tell if folders are Read-only by using Folder Properties. And you
have no need to know if Read-only is set for any folders anyway.

The Read-only check box for folders is not available because it does not
apply to the folder.

The Read-only check box for folders is there for convenience, it allows you
to change the Read-only attribute of all the *files* contained in that
folder.

If you keep screwing around, you will be back asking...

One of my special folders (e.g. My Documents, My Music, My
Pictures, Shared Documents, etc) has lost its name, lost its icon, or has
the wrong Task Pane template, how can I get it back?

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

All the folders in "C:\WINDOWS" and "C:\WINDOWS" is read-only too. I can't
find a single folder that isn't read-only. Not even at my backup, my restore
or my external harddrive. And it's really annoying that I can't unzip
anything, copy/paste anything, move anything or save anything because all the
folders is read-only. I've tried to reset the profile settings, but that
doesn't help. You could be right, and all my folders are customized. But all
the folders still didn't used to be read-only.

And the checkbox it available, it just don't funktion.

And I actually don't care if the folders is customized, just want to use
them.

 

[Guest]

And now, suddenly I can copy/paste stuf. :s Somehow something have worked, it
still says that the folders are read-only, but it doesn't act like it. Well,
problem solved.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

I am not going to argue with you.

You have other problems. Get those fixed first.

Update your antivirus software and run a full system scan.

Update whatever anti-spyware applications that you have and run a full
system scan with each one.

You might want to start in Safe Mode to run your antivirus and anti-spyware
software.

Running a full system antivirus scan or anti-spyware scan in Safe Mode can
be a good idea. Some viruses and other malware like to conceal themselves
in areas Windows protects while using them. Safe mode will prevent those
applications access and therefore unprotect the viruses or other malware
allowing for easier removal.

How to start Windows in Safe Mode Windows XP
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=61#winxo


Folders Security tab

You never stated whether you have XP Pro or XP Home Edition.

Permissions can only be set on NTFS formatted drives. If the hard drive is
formatted FAT32 you will never see the Security tab.

With Windows XP Home Edition.

[[Start in safe mode, and then log in as Administrator or as Administrative
User. The Security tab is available for files or folders on NTFS volumes.]]
from...
How to set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308418

To display the Security tab...
Open Folder Options in Control Panel.
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Folder Options
On the View tab, under Advanced settings, clear: Use simple file sharing
[Recommended].

Use simple file sharing [Recommended] means...
[[Specifies that simplified sharing is enabled. Simplified sharing lets you
share folders with everyone on your workgroup or network and make folders in
your user profile private. However, if simplified sharing is enabled, you
cannot prevent specific users and groups from accessing your shared folders.
Clear this check box if you want to set folder permissions for specific
users and groups.]]

[[Note You cannot turn off simple file sharing in Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition.]]

[[If simple file sharing is enabled, you see the simple file sharing user
interface appears instead of the Security and Sharing tabs. By default,
this new user interface is implemented in Windows XP Home Edition and in
Microsoft Windows XP Professional if you are working in a workgroup. If you
turn off simple file sharing, the classic Security and Sharing tabs appear,
and you can specify which users and groups have access to shared folders on
your computer. ]]

How to disable simplified sharing and set permissions on a shared folder in
Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874

The sharing tab is not visible if you are logged on to a machine with an
account that does not have adequate rights.

The sharing option is not available for the Documents and Settings, Program
Files, and WINDOWS system folders. In addition, you cannot share folders in
other user's profiles.

or...

The Sharing tab is not visible....
Start | Run | Type: services.msc | Click OK |
Scroll down to and double click: Server service |
Set Startup type to: Automatic | Click Apply | Click the Start button |
When it has started, click OK

If you do not see the Server service..........
This will restore the Server Service (lanmanserver).

Open Network Connections, click Start, point to Settings, click Control
Panel, and then double-click Network Connections. | Right click Your
Connection | Properties | General tab | Install button | Highlight: Service
| Add button | Highlight: File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks |
OK | Close
-----

Open Group Policy...
Start | Run | Type: gpedit.msc | Click OK |
Navigate to...
Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Explorer\
Remove the Security tab
Set to Not Configured or Disabled.

Remove the Security tab
[[Removes the Security tab from Windows Explorer.

If you enable this setting, users opening the Properties dialog box for all
file system objects, including folders, files, shortcuts, and drives, will
not be able to access the Security tab. As a result, users will be able to
neither change the security settings nor view a list of all users that have
access to the resource in question.

If you disable or do not configure this setting, users will be able to
access the security tab.]]

Check settings here...
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Policies\Explorer
If there is no NoSecurityTab listing then this is not the problem.
Value Name: NoSecurityTab
Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value Data: 0 or 1
0 = Security tab will be visible
1 = Security tab will not be visible

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

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In