Windows 7 - Folders - Read Only Cannot be Removed

Asked By Ed O'Brien

22-Sep-07 09:54 AM

I have just descovered (while trying to zip) all my folders are "Read only".
When I uncheck the option as soon as I hit OK and close, it becomes
rechecked.

Can anyone help me with this?

TIA

Ed

22-Sep-07 10:38 AM

The read-only attribute has not been applicable to folders since XP. It
is the contents *inside* the folders that can be set to read-only.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

22-Sep-07 11:18 AM

Thanks for coming back so quick.  Unfortunately, I have to disagree. I have
one folder containing one file and a sub-folder contaniing 12 files. All the
files in both folders are okay but both the folder and the subfolder are
Read only and I cannot uncheck the Read only. I'm running Vista Home
Premium.

22-Sep-07 11:31 AM

Check the permissions of the file or folder the file is saved in and
take ownership:

1. Right-click the file or folder, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Security tab.
3. Under Group or user names, click your name to see the permissions you
have.

To open a file, you need to have read permission. For more information
on permissions, see What are permissions?

http://tinyurl.com/2j9vgr

To take ownership of a folder:

1. Right-click the folder that you want to take ownership of, and then
click Properties.
2. Click the Security tab, click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.
3. Click Edit. Administrator permission required If you are prompted for
an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide
confirmation.
4. Click the name of the person you want to give ownership to.
5. If you want that person to be the owner of files and subfolders in
this folder, select the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects check
box.
6. Click OK


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

22-Sep-07 12:01 PM

There are two 'Owners' listed - both me. One has Administrator in front of
my name, otherwise they're the same. Checking as you described on the
'Security' tab, I find I do not have "Full Control", "Modify", "Read",
ticks.  I can see no way to change these.

22-Sep-07 12:40 PM

Ed O'Brien;459879 Wrote:

Hi Ed,

You will want to use the one that has your username for the user
account that you are currently logged in.  You might take a look at this
tutorial to see if it will help you.  It has screenshots to help guide
you along.  Look at method two.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html

Shawn


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22-Sep-07 01:35 PM

Thanks for this. I'm afraid it didn't help. I check my User Account - there
is oly the one - and that reads; "Edward. Administrator". When I visit the
various windows for 'ownership' etc. under "Group or user names" it lists 4
names. "Authenticated users", "SYSTEM", "Administrators
(Edward-PC\Administrators)" and Users (Edward-PC\Users).

I have tried using both that has my name within them. Neither has worked.

Oddly, while all permissions appear to be given they are all greyes oout and
cannot be changed.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for your patience.

Ed

22-Sep-07 03:33 PM

Edward;459955 Wrote:

Ed,

I played around some more on this and discovered that this is true from
inside the personal user folders and on the desktop in Vista. You can
change the "Deny", but not the "Allow".

All of them have the "Read Only" as a blue box. This is null, it is not
set as "Read Only". To make it Read Only, you would click the blue box,
it will turn to a empty box, then you click it to check it.  Uncheck it,
and you will see it as the blue box when you open it again.

Hope this helps,
Shawn


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*There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.*
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*Please post feedback to help others.*