Why Are All Directories Marked Read Only

  • Thread starter Thread starter Todd
  • Start date Start date
T

Todd

When you go into file explorer and right click a folder
and look at properties, there is always a gray check in
the read-only attribute. No matter what I do I cannot get
that check mark to disappear. What is its purpose?
Especially since you actually set the real permissions by
selecting the security tab.
 
XP just marks all folders read-only by default, BUT, the folders are not
read-only and
should work as normal. Just ignore the read-only mark. If you have a piece
of software that is having probs writing to a folder then try to get an xp
complatable version of the program. Or post the exact probs your having.
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 makes folders read-only 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. Read up on it:
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
 
Todd said:
When you go into file explorer and right click a folder
and look at properties, there is always a gray check in
the read-only attribute. No matter what I do I cannot get
that check mark to disappear. What is its purpose?
Click to expand...

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
 
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