Automatic setting of read only on folders and files

[Guest]

Not sure if I have posted in the right place. So sorry if I have. I have a
problem with read only settings. All my files and folders have been setup
as read only and so this is stopping me deleting things. I am unable to
change this in the properties and I am trying to use the suggestion in
KB326549 and this is not working.

What would be casuing this issue?

Many thanks for any help.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

Read-only means nothing for folders. Only a file can be Read-only.

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.
---

[[Apply the read-only attribute to folder contents

A folder itself cannot be made read-only. Nevertheless, the properties
dialog box for a folder does include a read-only check box. You can use
this check box to set or clear the read-only attribute for all existing
files in the selected folder. This action has no bearing on files that you
create subsequently.

In most cases, when you open the properties dialog box for a folder, the
Read-Only check box will contain a green square. This indicates either a
mixed or undetermined condition. Windows displays this green square because
it would take too long to check the state of the read-only attribute for
every file in the folder. To apply the read-only attribute to the contents
of a folder, click the check box until a check mark appears. To clear the
attribute, click the check box until it is empty. When you leave the dialog
box, Windows asks whether you want to apply your action to subfolders and
files. Be sure you select this option; if you select Apply Changes To This
Folder Only, nothing at all happens.]]
From...
Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out Deluxe, Second Edition
Author Ed Bott, Carl Siechert, Craig Stinson
http://www.microsoft.com/products/i...216cbfc3-ff30-42db-9c32-995a75dfafbe&type=ovr

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Thanks for this, but it did not solve my problem. All my files have been
set as read only, some of the file names are now blue in colour. Every time
I right click on a file I get an error message which I am unable to find on
the knowledge base. I have run a virus scan spyware check. Not sure what
else I can do. I have tried the take ownership solution but even in safe
mode I can't right click on files and I have full permissions for all my
folders.

many thanks,

Vickie

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

Read-only means nothing for folders. Only a file can be Read-only.

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.
---

[[Apply the read-only attribute to folder contents

A folder itself cannot be made read-only. Nevertheless, the properties
dialog box for a folder does include a read-only check box. You can use
this check box to set or clear the read-only attribute for all existing
files in the selected folder. This action has no bearing on files that you
create subsequently.

In most cases, when you open the properties dialog box for a folder, the
Read-Only check box will contain a green square. This indicates either a
mixed or undetermined condition. Windows displays this green square because
it would take too long to check the state of the read-only attribute for
every file in the folder. To apply the read-only attribute to the contents
of a folder, click the check box until a check mark appears. To clear the
attribute, click the check box until it is empty. When you leave the dialog
box, Windows asks whether you want to apply your action to subfolders and
files. Be sure you select this option; if you select Apply Changes To This
Folder Only, nothing at all happens.]]
From...
Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out Deluxe, Second Edition
Author Ed Bott, Carl Siechert, Craig Stinson
http://www.microsoft.com/products/i...216cbfc3-ff30-42db-9c32-995a75dfafbe&type=ovr

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Not sure if I have posted in the right place. So sorry if I have. I
have a problem with read only settings. All my files and folders have
been setup as read only and so this is stopping me deleting things. I
am unable to change this in the properties and I am trying to use the
suggestion in KB326549 and this is not working.

What would be casuing this issue?

Many thanks for any help.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Vickie,

Files or folders that are blue in color are usually compressed files.

Why does Explorer display some files in blue color and some in green?
http://www.winxptutor.com/filecolor.htm

What is the error message that you get when you right click a file?

Where are these files located?

This explains a little about Compressed Files...
How To Use File Compression in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307987

This explains a little about Compressed Files...
File compression overview
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...proddocs/en-us/ff_file_compress_overview.mspx

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thanks for this, but it did not solve my problem. All my files have been
set as read only, some of the file names are now blue in colour. Every
time I right click on a file I get an error message which I am unable to
find on the knowledge base. I have run a virus scan spyware check. Not
sure what else I can do. I have tried the take ownership solution but
even in safe mode I can't right click on files and I have full
permissions for all my folders.

many thanks,

Vickie

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

Read-only means nothing for folders. Only a file can be Read-only.

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. ---

[[Apply the read-only attribute to folder contents

A folder itself cannot be made read-only. Nevertheless, the properties
dialog box for a folder does include a read-only check box. You can use
this check box to set or clear the read-only attribute for all existing
files in the selected folder. This action has no bearing on files that
you create subsequently.

In most cases, when you open the properties dialog box for a folder, the
Read-Only check box will contain a green square. This indicates either a
mixed or undetermined condition. Windows displays this green square
because it would take too long to check the state of the read-only
attribute for every file in the folder. To apply the read-only attribute
to the contents of a folder, click the check box until a check mark
appears. To clear the attribute, click the check box until it is empty.
When you leave the dialog box, Windows asks whether you want to apply
your action to subfolders and files. Be sure you select this option; if
you select Apply Changes To This Folder Only, nothing at all happens.]]
From...
Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out Deluxe, Second Edition
Author Ed Bott, Carl Siechert, Craig Stinson
http://www.microsoft.com/products/i...216cbfc3-ff30-42db-9c32-995a75dfafbe&type=ovr

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Not sure if I have posted in the right place. So sorry if I have. I
have a problem with read only settings. All my files and folders have
been setup as read only and so this is stopping me deleting things. I
am unable to change this in the properties and I am trying to use the
suggestion in KB326549 and this is not working.

What would be casuing this issue?

Many thanks for any help.