"Documents and Settings" Folder Set to Read-Only

[Lumiscope Company]

One of my users running Windows XP Professional is unable to open e-mail
file attachments (specifically Excel files) by double-clicking them. If I
save the file to the disk, everything works file, so I knew it wasn't an
issue with the application, the file or the file association. Doing a
little searching, it turns out the when the attachment is opened, Windows XP
isn't creating the temp file in the \Local Settings\Temporary Internet
Files\ directory. So, when the application opens, it comes back with an
error that the file cannot be found.

Doing a bit more digging, I discovered that the entire c:\Documents and
Settings\ folder is set to "Read-Only"; and if I try to uncheck that
setting, it just goes right back to where it was. I was thinking that
perhaps this has something to do with the user permissions, but this is the
only user set-up on this machine, and I can't see anything that has changed
since the user was initially set-up.

Any idea of what might have caused the Documents and Settings folder to
become a Read-Only folder, and how I can correct this?

Matt Mrowicki
Director, Information Systems
The Lumiscope Company, Inc.

 

[David Candy]

Read only has nothing to do with it. Explorer will neither tell you if it's set or not or allow you to change it. Read Only is only for files. As it's a meaningless attribute applied to folders Explorer uses it for it's own purposes. Changing it where it is on will break significant functionality in Explorer. On the other hand turning it on where it is off does nothing. There is no need for an end user to ever change it manually. Windows Setup and Explorer and other windows components turn it on automatically where and when required and will often repair it on boot if you stuff about with it. It never bothers to turn it off as their is no need.

 

[Matt Mrowicki]

Thank you for the response, David, and the clarification on how XP treats
the Read-Only setting for folders.

Based on what you've told me, would you (or anyone else reading this thread)
have any idea why Outlook Express wouldn't be able to create a temp file in
\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\ when the user tries to launch an
application (Excel) by opening a file attachment?

Matt Mrowicki
Director, Information Systems
The Lumiscope Company, Inc.


Read only has nothing to do with it. Explorer will neither tell you if it's
set or not or allow you to change it. Read Only is only for files. As it's a
meaningless attribute applied to folders Explorer uses it for it's own
purposes. Changing it where it is on will break significant functionality in
Explorer. On the other hand turning it on where it is off does nothing.
There is no need for an end user to ever change it manually. Windows Setup
and Explorer and other windows components turn it on automatically where and
when required and will often repair it on boot if you stuff about with it.
It never bothers to turn it off as their is no need.

 

[David Candy]

I suppose you've tried clearing Temporary Internet Files. Wierd things
happening in TIF is usually because it's become confused. Try empting in in
Start - Control Panel - Internet Options - General - Delete Files - (tick
Delete Offline Content) - Ok.


Read only has nothing to do with it. Explorer will neither tell you if it's
set or not or allow you to change it. Read Only is only for files. As it's a
meaningless attribute applied to folders Explorer uses it for it's own
purposes. Changing it where it is on will break significant functionality in
Explorer. On the other hand turning it on where it is off does nothing.
There is no need for an end user to ever change it manually. Windows Setup
and Explorer and other windows components turn it on automatically where and
when required and will often repair it on boot if you stuff about with it.
It never bothers to turn it off as their is no need.