removing read only from folder

[Daf]

Hi all,

I'm having a problem removing the "read only" attribute from a folder...

I transferred a folder over to my c drive from a cd. Normally this
produces a "read only" folder on the drive - this I know. Now with Win2k
I was always able to go to "Properies" for that folder and uncheck the
"read only" box - set the option to apply to sub-directories and that was
that - the read only attribute was removed...no sweat.

But with XP Professional I don't seem to be able to remove the attribute
no matter what I try! :/

If I simply use the "Properties" from explorer I get the normal dialog
for removing it (including removing for sub-directories) but an immediate
return to "Properties" shows that it's still read only. Even refreshing
the explorer page and checking show it's still on.

I found this article http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
scid=kb;EN-US;326549 and tried this method but it STILL won't remove...
ack!

I ran the dos commands

c:\attrib -r c:\Saw Pro
c:\attrib -r c:\Saw Pro\
c:\attrib -r Saw Pro\

but no joy.

I'm the administrator so I don't think it's a permissions issue.

The reason I need to remove the attribute is so I can save my preferences
in the program I'm running out of that folder.

Thanks for any help!

Daf

 

[Mark Dormer]

Are you seeing a greyed out tick?
This doesn't mean the folder is read only, it means it is indeterminate
The checkbox is tristate, click it a few times, it cycles between blank,
ticked and greyed out tick.

In a command prompt type attrib foldername does it report it as read only, i
bet not.

If you set the read only bit on a folder using attrib, the state in explorer
will still be greyed out tick.

Basically the explorer setting does nothing, it will neither add or remove
the setting.

Only attrib actually set the bit and explorer ignores it anyway.


Regards
Mark Dormer

Is the

 

[Daf]

I would try renaming the afflicted folder to something
else and then creating a new folder with the same name as
the afflicted folder had, making sure that the Read-only
attribute is off, and then copy the files from the old
folder to the new one.

If it works then delete the renamed folder.

Thanks for the replies!

This is what finally worked:

There was a desktop.ini file in that folder - the attribute was set to
"read only" as well. Only by removing that attribute, from the desktop.ini,
was I able to remove the "read only" attribute of the folder. Weird!

I'm sure that the creating of a new folder as Eric suggested would have
worked as well.

Thanks
Daf