"Read Only" folders won't change their attribute

[Ken]

XP Pro

I thoujght I posted this yesterday -- it appears in
my "Sent" folder, but I
don't see it online. Sorry if it's a repost

I have files and folders that are "Read Only." No matter
what I do (i.e.,
uncheck the "read only" box under "Properties"), they
still come up as read
only. Some of these folders/files are shared (and are
set up such that
users on the network "can change them." But when I open
up a file, it says
that it's "Read Only." So in order to change any of the
files, I have to
save it under a different name, delete the old file, and
change the name of
the new one to the old one. One the host machine.

Any ideas what's wrong? (I realize this might flip over
into the networking
group, but to the extent there's an XP solution, I'd
appreciate hearing it.)

Many thanks.
Ken

 

[Phil]

Folders are not read-only. XP just marks all folders indeterminate by
default. It is a tri-state check box. Colored in is indeterminate, checked
is read-only, unchecked is normal. The folders are not read-only and should
work as normal. Just ignore the read-only box on folders. If you have a
piece of software that is having problems writing to a folder then try to
get an xp
compatible version of the program. Most likely if it is a well written app
then is it not the read-only check box, more likely a permissions setting.

Here is some info on it:

XP does this by design. In XP the read only attribute is only used by
explorer to see if the folder is a special or a system folder.
For XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;326549
or for other win versions:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;256614

File permissions info:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q308418

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have files and folders that are "Read Only." No matter
what I do (i.e.,
uncheck the "read only" box under "Properties"), they
still come up as read
only. Some of these folders/files are shared (and are
set up such that
users on the network "can change them." But when I open
up a file, it says
that it's "Read Only.

Read only is an attribute that has no meaning for folders (the
directories are always open for writing), and XP makes an alternative
use of it. You can change it and on Apply it will ask if you want the
change applied to all contained objects, but the display of it for the
folder will revert to greyed. It should not affect ability to create or
change files in the folder - on the network you will need to be sure
that the folder is available for sharing, and that its Properties allow
the appropriate Security access to net users