Changing Permissions on Read Only Directories

[Robert Robinson]

Programs and data that are copied from a CD-ROM or other source
frequently are stored in a new directory that is set as read only. As a
user with administrative privileges, you can remove the read only flag,
but the system then re-sets it after exiting Windows Explorer. The only
way to permanently change the security setting is to go through an
awkward procedure to set the directory read/write for (all) users. I am
puzzled that the flag can be set to read/write, but it doesn't stay set.
Also, the security isn't of much value because an odd work around is to
temporarily set the security with Windows Explorer, then leave Explorer
open at this point. You can then write into the directory with another
program. Write protection is only re-enabled after an exit from Explorer.
The system should obviously not permit a change in read/write unless the
user has permission to make this a permanent change.
Robbie

 

[jonah]

Programs and data that are copied from a CD-ROM or other source
frequently are stored in a new directory that is set as read only. As a
user with administrative privileges, you can remove the read only flag,
but the system then re-sets it after exiting Windows Explorer. The only
way to permanently change the security setting is to go through an
awkward procedure to set the directory read/write for (all) users. I am
puzzled that the flag can be set to read/write, but it doesn't stay set.
Also, the security isn't of much value because an odd work around is to
temporarily set the security with Windows Explorer, then leave Explorer
open at this point. You can then write into the directory with another
program. Write protection is only re-enabled after an exit from Explorer.
The system should obviously not permit a change in read/write unless the
user has permission to make this a permanent change.
Robbie

Hi Robbie,

I have currently given up with this beta, the file permissions, UAC
etc cause far too many problems and get in the way of using the thing.
It appears to me as a bit of a dogs breakfast in its current form.
Fair enough its a lot more secure than XP but as a knowlegeable user
when I ask for admin control I want full admin control I do not need
to waste my time working around security when in logged in as admin.

I will wait for RC1 and see if they have improved things a bit in this
area.

Having said that the over paranoid security issues / lack of full
admin control are the only thing I have against Vista other than that
I like it very much.

Put a bug report in, hopefully MSFT will fix admin control properly,
either you are root or not, this middle ground least access stuff is
just silly.

Jonah

 

[Kerry Brown]

Programs and data that are copied from a CD-ROM or other source
frequently are stored in a new directory that is set as read only. As
a user with administrative privileges, you can remove the read only
flag, but the system then re-sets it after exiting Windows Explorer.
The only way to permanently change the security setting is to go
through an awkward procedure to set the directory read/write for
(all) users. I am puzzled that the flag can be set to read/write, but
it doesn't stay set. Also, the security isn't of much value because
an odd work around is to temporarily set the security with Windows
Explorer, then leave Explorer open at this point. You can then write
into the directory with another program. Write protection is only
re-enabled after an exit from Explorer. The system should obviously
not permit a change in read/write unless the user has permission to
make this a permanent change. Robbie

If you are talking about the read only attribute and not NTFS permissions
then that may have been carried over from XP. In XP all folders have the
read only attribute by default. It is ignored by Windows as it is used for
other purposes. If the files are marked read only or the NTFS permissions
for the folder only give you read permission then something different is
happening.

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=326549

Don't know if this still applies to Vista. My Vista computer is in another
room

 

[Kerry Brown]

If you are talking about the read only attribute and not NTFS permissions
then that may have been carried over from XP. In XP all folders have the
read only attribute by default. It is ignored by Windows as it is used for
other purposes. If the files are marked read only or the NTFS permissions
for the folder only give you read permission then something different is
happening.

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=326549

Don't know if this still applies to Vista. My Vista computer is in another
room

I just checked on a Vista machine and this is indeed the case. All folders
show the read only attribute. It is ignored by the OS.

 

[Guest]

Security is a big issue with Beta 2. I have set all the permisions to all
accounts to full control and yet when I try to save a file to a formatted
partition, I am denied access and I am asked to save the file under a
recommend user folder. OK, so I did that instead. I try using Explorer to
retrive the downloaded file and no matter what setting's I use, I am unable
to see that the file exists. I then try to download the file again and save
it to the exact folder and it already exists. I can not retrieve the file. Am
I missing something as well?

 

[Kerry Brown]

Are saving files when downloading through IE or are you having problems with
all programs saving files? I just tried a download from downloads.com. I was
able to create a new folder and save the download there all from within the
file save dialog. I am running as a standard user. I didn't even get any UAC
dialogs. Please be more specific about what you are trying to do.

 

[Guest]

I set up a 160GB hard drive with three partitions. When I try to save
anything on either of the second or third partition, it comes up with access
denied.
I downloaded the 64bit ISO file for Vista and wanted to save it to one of
the partitions and the same happened- access denied (do you want to save it
to C:\user\richard? So I clicked yes and it downloaded and is saved. When i
browse for it it is no where to be found. I start to download it again and
save it to the same location and it already exists. What permissions am I
missing to access my own user directory?

 

[Guest]

I set up a 160GB hard drive with three partitions. When I try to save
anything on either of the second or third partition, it comes up with access
denied.
I downloaded the 64bit ISO file for Vista and wanted to save it to one of
the partitions and the same happened- access denied (do you want to save it
to C:\user\richard? So I clicked yes and it downloaded and is saved. When i
browse for it it is no where to be found. I start to download it again and
save it to the same location and it already exists. What permissions am I
missing to access my own user directory?

 

[Guest]

I set up a 160GB hard drive with three partitions. When I try to save
anything on either of the second or third partition, it comes up with access
denied.
I downloaded the 64bit ISO file for Vista and wanted to save it to one of
the partitions and the same happened- access denied (do you want to save it
to C:\user\richard? So I clicked yes and it downloaded and is saved. When i
browse for it it is no where to be found. I start to download it again and
save it to the same location and it already exists. What permissions am I
missing to access my own user directory?

 

[Kerry Brown]

Are you using the Microsoft File Transfer Manager? I have the same problem
in Windows XP when downloading from MSDN. I never worried about it as it
only happened when downloading with MFTM. It would only let me save to My
Documents or a folder in My Documents. I don't know why you can't see it.
Try searching for the file.

 

[Guest]

Hi Robbie,

I have currently given up with this beta, the file permissions, UAC
etc cause far too many problems and get in the way of using the thing.
It appears to me as a bit of a dogs breakfast in its current form.
Fair enough its a lot more secure than XP but as a knowlegeable user
when I ask for admin control I want full admin control I do not need
to waste my time working around security when in logged in as admin.

I will wait for RC1 and see if they have improved things a bit in this
area.

Having said that the over paranoid security issues / lack of full
admin control are the only thing I have against Vista other than that
I like it very much.

Put a bug report in, hopefully MSFT will fix admin control properly,
either you are root or not, this middle ground least access stuff is
just silly.

Jonah

I agree with Jonah on this. I like the overall look of Vista, but their
user and admin security controls are just downright "Silly" (especially all
of the "pop-up screens asking me if I want to ALLOW or DENY a specific
action). I uninstalled a program, and then went into the Program Files to
delete the original program file that the program I uninstalled created, and
it told me that "I do not have administrator privileges to perform this
action"... while I was logged in as the administrator. I can appreciate
MSFT's attempt at trying to make this version of Windows "Idiot Proof" for
amatuer users, who do not know that they may be deleting a crucial system
file, but they need to also realize that some of us actually know what we are
doing!!!

 

[Guest]

Sorry about the multiple replies. Such a lag between posts.

I cannot access files or save files on the
other two partitions either. I have the 64-bit ISO download to my
C:\user\richard directory and cannot acces the file. It is there though and
search does not find it. Yet when I try to download the file again it says it
exists already. I can see the file in the save as dialog window, I try to
copy it from that location to a place where I can actually save files to and
a
message comes up that the file no longer exists.
This was a new install on a new out the box hard drive. Anything I am
missing? I have set all users to have full control and still nothing.

 

[Kerry Brown]

I've tried to duplicate this and can't. I can always save to anywhere I have
NTFS permissions except when I am using the Microsoft File Transfer Manager.
This problem exists in XP so it's not the OS but the program. All other
program I've tried work fine when saving a file. Sorry not much help. Make
sure you report it to Microsoft.

 

[Kerry Brown]

It appears others are experienceing this problem as well. It may have
something to do with IE7 security. See this thread:

news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windows.vista.file_management:362

If the link doesn't work here is a copy of the relevant post.

"figured it out. the problem is with Internet Explorer protected mode. Turn
it
off in Options->Security. the file you already downloaded is in
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet
Files\Virtualized\C\Users\Username\Documents"