Can't change file permissions in XP Pro

[Hans]

Hi, I can't change file permissions anymore in XP Pro.
Permissions on all files seem to be normal, but I just
lost power to change permissions. Regardless the file or
folder, if I look at the security tab, the permission
settings are selected as they should, but have a grey
background. So I cant change it. Not even owners and
administrators can change settings of their files. "Use
simple file sharing" is off. I don't know when this
behaviour started, but a few months ago, it all worked
well. Since a few day's, I've seen this behavious on
multiple XP Pro machines.

What causes this problem and how can I solve it? May it
have something to do with inheritance of rights?

Thanks,

Hans.

 

[Roger Abell]

So when you are in a security dialog and try to change
a permission grant, what does happen.
Seeing the grants grayed out is intended to indicate
that this is not set directly but is inherited from further
up in the directory structure.

 

[Guest]

Actually nothing happens, thats the issue. When I have the
security dialog open of any file or folder, and I click on
a check box, I can't select or deselect it, because it's
grayed. No error messages, totally nothing. Effectively, I
can't change permissions. I also thought in the direction
of inherited rights, but until recent it just worked fine.
I can't remember doing anything causing this changed
behaviour.

Hans.