My files won't copy

[Guest]

I am working in Excel and using my E drive to backup my work. My problem is that I don’t seem to be able to copy new files to replace “read only†files already on the disc.
Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Richard Urban]

So, remove the read only attribute from the file you want to over write!

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Don MI]

I am working in Excel and using my E drive to backup my work. My

problem is that I don't seem to be able to copy new files to replace "read
only" files already on the disc.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Is your E drive a CD or DVD/CD writer? If so, you cannot replace the read
only files on a R/RW disk using Windows XP CD writer support. You can change
the file name and then write the new file to your CD-R or CD-RW.

If you are using a CD-RW disk and want to replace files on that disk, you
must use a CD writer application that supports packet writing. Windows XP
built writer does not. You need a application such as Roxio CD Creator or
Nero.

While you did not say you were doing so, do not try to save or open any
Office application file directly from removable media from within the Office
application. Doing so, can corrupt your files.

Don

 

[Guest]

Unfortunately, I don't know how to remove the read only attribute.

 

[Richard Urban]

If you had said initially that you were trying to backup to a CD I would not
have even said that!

A CD, by default, has read only attributes. If you have 3rd party software
(such as Roxio CD & DVD Creator), you can replace the file. The original
files space is still used - you just can't see or access the original file.
If you are using CD-RW, you can truly overwrite the original file and
reclaim the original space.

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Don MI]

My E drive is a CD writer and I do have Roxio CD Creator but I was

using the 'Save As' feature. I am very new to computers so I am always
asking someone for help. I was told to use the 'Save As' feature to backup
my files but I quess I need to figure out another way to do it.

By just changing the file name I would end up with a lot of files I

don't need because I need to backup my work quite often. That is why I
wanted to replace the existing file.

I don't understand your last paragraph. Would you mind trying again to get it through my thick head?
Is there somewhere on my computer or online where I can learn all this

without always having to bother someone else with my problems?

I appreciate all your help.

Office applications are not designed to save to removable media {such as by
using Save As}. Nor are the designed to open files from removable media.
Trying to do so, will sooner or less sooner result in corrupt files. What
you should do is save to your hard drive and then copy to the removable
media.

While I do not have Roxio CD Creator {nor have I used it for several years},
you should be able to copy files from your hard drive and overwrite files on
a CD-RW using Roxio CD Creator. You cannot do so on a CD-R as a CD-R is a
write once media. If you try to Save As to a CD-RW from within an Office
application, Office does not have access to the Roxio CD Creator packet
writing feature. So, you cannot overwrite an existing file.

Windows XP Help and Support is useful for many problems. Also the web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx is also useful. Most applications
have their own web site for frequently ask questions and support.

In any case, to not worry about bothering someone else by posting to the
Microsoft newsgroups. However, you should try to post to the appropriate
newsgroup {there are a number of newsgroups on the Microsoft servers}.
Also, you should think through your problem an post a description so that
others can understand your problem including any error messages. In this
case, noting that drive E was your CD writer would have been useful {I
guessed}.

Also, I note that you are posting via the Microsoft web CDO interface.
Suggest you post directly to the Microsoft newsgroup servers. In Outlook
Express go to Tools, Accounts and select the News tab. Then add
msnews.microsoft.com to the news accounts. Then complete the other
information needed to setup an account. HOWEVER {yes I am shouting}, DO NOT
ENTER your correct email address in the email box. Create a fake one. Any
fake address will do. Entering your email address in the email address box
will result in your real email address being included in the header for
every post. There are people who scan the headers in newsgroup post for
email addresses to send SPAM.

Don

 

[Guest]

Please forgive my stupidy. I thought all E drives were CD writers. Also, am I not using the appropriate newsgroup? If not, please tell me which one I should be using.
Thanks for all your help Don MI. I sorely need and appreciate it.

 

[David Candy]

Just on your computer. On most they'll be D. But they can be from C to Z. And you can choose in Disk Management.

 

[Don MI]

Please forgive my stupidy. I thought all E drives were CD writers.

Also, am I not using the appropriate newsgroup? If not, please tell me which
one I should be using.

Thanks for all your help Don MI. I sorely need and appreciate it.

Strictly this group is for the Windows Help and Support feature. However,
that is frequently ignored. My comment on using the correct group was in
reference to future problems not this one. Once you setup Outlook Express
to msnews.microsoft.com and browse though the available news groups, you
will find several Windows XP groups, Internet Explorer groups etc. If you
have a problem with Windows update, there is a update newsgroup. Looking
for the correct group helps you by increasing your chance of finding a
expert on your problem.

By default, removable drives such a CD writers are assigned the next letter
following the hard drive partition drive letters. For many computers that
is drive D. However, you can assign a drive letter of your choice. My DVD
writer is W and my DVD reader is V. The advantage of choosing a drive
letter like W is that if you create a new hard drive partition or add an
other hard drive, the drive letter for your CD or DVD drive does not change.
Some applications record the drive letter used to install and go to that
drive letter if files from the installation disk or related data disks are
needed.

Don

 

[Guest]

Kira
I have had the same problem. I am trying to use the CDRW to store EXCEL
files that are used outside of my main business. When I wrote them to the CD
they had a read-only attribute applied by theCDRW write operation. When you
copy them onto your hard drive (do not try to run it from the CD) you can
right click the file name and go to properties. Go down to the read-only
property and click it to turn it off then click apply>OK. Afte the file is
changed you will not be able to write it back to the CDRW with the same name
unless you delete it from the CDRW first or "save as" with a different name,
such as add a number after the name that represents how many times it has
been changed. Then it can be written to the CDRW and it will have the file
attribute as read-only ETC.