External Hard Drive Default to Read-Only

[Guest]

Every once in a while, my external hard drive defaults to Read-Only. I used
to be able to turn off Read-Only one folder at a time, but this time it is
just resetting it to Read-Only. Why would it do this, and how can I stop it?

I'm using a Western Digital 200 GB Internal Hard Drive in an external
enclosure, hooked up via USB 2.0.

 

[Richard Urban]

I have never installed a hard drive in a case but I have, and use, 3
external USB 2.0 hard drives from major manufacturers. I have never
experienced the problem you describe. What I save a file at - it stays at!

The big difference, of course, is that my hard drive and its enclosure (and
associated electronics) were assembled and tested as a unit by the
manufacturer and found to be compatible. Guess yours aren't!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

One workaround might be to take ownership for all users. It would not change the read only status, but would allow read/write access
for all.
HOW TO Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q308421

 

[Guest]

Well, the problem is that (though it is always on) Windows only SOMETIMES
doesn't want to write to it. So, for instance, I'll be burning a DVD or
Playing a Video Game and it will suddenly give me a write error.

 

[Jim]

Useless Post

I have never installed a hard drive in a case but I have, and use, 3
external USB 2.0 hard drives from major manufacturers. I have never
experienced the problem you describe. What I save a file at - it stays at!

The big difference, of course, is that my hard drive and its enclosure
(and associated electronics) were assembled and tested as a unit by the
manufacturer and found to be compatible. Guess yours aren't!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Richard Urban]

You think that pointing out a compatibility condition is useless. Many
people place the same problematical drive in another manufacturers external
case and the drive works fine!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

As Richard Urban mentioned, not all hardware is guaranteed to work with XP. I would try to find a better driver for USB 2, and/or
the DVD.

 

[Guest]

I'm sorry, but Mr. Urban's post was useless. If you're telling someone to
check for better drivers, say, "Try updating your drivers, or testing another
enclosure." What you shouldn't say is (in essence), "You should by the best,
like I do; and don't buy crap."

Now, here's the weird part. Let me restate everything since I wasn't clear.

The folders and files report "Read-Only" in the properties, but with a green
box, and not a check mark. Only sometimes do I get a write error. Most of
the time it works fine.

I'm going to try scandisk to look for bad sectors.

Any other ideas?

 

[Richard Urban]

Look! Take the friggin drive out of the case. Connect it up directly to your
M/B. Does it work correctly? If it does, you know where your problem is!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Guest]

Actually, Mr. Urban, I checked my Master Drive, and it is doing the same
thing. Now...it's not the greatest computer, but it is a Dell, and it is
only 3 months old, and it is all original factory hardware...does Dell test
their stuff? I don't remember.

Can someone who knows anything help with this question?

 

[Richard Urban]

And you are not communicating with Dell about your 3 month old, still in
warranty computer because.......?

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!