Windows XP doesn't actually recursively change attributes

Question

This should probably go into the question about Windows Annoyances, but can anyone explain why this happens, and how to fix it?

I right-click on a folder, select properties, and uncheck the Read-only. Click on OK. I get a confirmation with the option to apply changes to this folder only, or include subfolders and files. I select the latter, and click OK.

Go back to properties, and it's still showing up as Read only. Why? I can't see any files that are still read-only

score 7 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 16 '09 at 20:52

7

This issue is described in KB326549: You cannot view or change the Read-only or the System attributes of folders in Windows Server 2003, in Windows XP, or in Windows Vista

The solution given there is to simply use the command-line attrib command to remove the attributes, like so:

attrib -r -s "c:\somepath\my readonly folder"

answered Jul 16 '09 at 20:52

Shog9

512
2
17
34

1

Note the read-only status of a folder generally won't cause any issues and can usually be ignored. – Pedro Jul 16 '09 at 21:40
Its interesting that they chose the read-only attribute to hint to Explorer to load `desktop.ini` for that folder. That emphasizes that normal applications really are not supposed to pay attention to it. – RBerteig Jul 16 '09 at 23:47

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 20 '09 at 13:17

3

Type Win+R cmd ENTER to get a shell. In the shell, type the following:

> cd "C:\Path\To\Read-Only\Folder"
> attrib -R /S /D

The /S and /D are needed to recurse into and remove read-only attribute from subfolders.

answered Aug 20 '09 at 13:17

Lars Haugseth

382
1
4
17

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 10 '11 at 16:02

http://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/24940/why-cant-i-remove-the-read-only-flag-from-a-windows-xp-or-windows-2000-folder.html

Start a registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).

Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer subkey.

Select New -> DWORD Value from the Edit menu.

Enter a name of UseSystemForSystemFolders and press Enter.

Double-click the new value, set it to 1, and click OK.

Close the registry editor.

Reboot the machine for the changes to take effect.

Once you've done this you should be able to change your folder permissions.

Windows XP doesn't actually recursively change attributes

3 Answers3

Linked