Cant uncheck read only in properties 2

[keepingbusy]

Hi All, I recently sent a friend some files which were not "read only" when they were transfered to a blank CD. However, on being copied to a folder on his computer and for some unknown reason, there attribute has become "read only". The main problem is the fact that these are database files and cannot be read only, because we obviously have to write to them. We have tried the usual way by selecting all the files, then right clicking to activate the popup menu, selecting properties and tried to uncheck the "read only" check box. Again, this box has been disabled by Windows and we have no idea why we cannot access to change the files attribute.

Has anyone got any ideas?
Many thanks and kindest regards
KB When everything else is said and done, there will be nothing else to say or do! God Bless everyone....

 

[cdogg]

You've made sure that the files you were selecting were the ones on the hard drive, right? I know this seems obvious, but I have made the mistake myself of selecting the ones on cd by accident!

You cannot change those attributes on the cd. Whenever you copy files from cd to HD, the default attribute assigned is read-only. Also, I'm assuming you're using Win95, 98, or ME. If for some reason Windows won't let you, reboot to an MS-DOS command prompt.

Type attrib -r -s -a -h c:\path and filename

- you fill in the path and filename of course!

 

[mbarron]

You state that "We have tried the usual way by selecting all the files, then right clicking ...."

Have you tried doing them one at a time?

If only one of the files (in a group of files) is read only and the rest are not, you will not be able to change that attribute.

Mike

 

[cdogg]

mbarron,

Are you sure? I have Win98SE. If I select a group of files in Windows Explorer, with only one of them as read-only, then go to properties I still have the option to uncheck it. The box will have a grey background indicating that not every file has the same attribute. However, it still allows me to.

Hmmmm...

 

[mbarron]

cdogg,

I'm sure for 95.

Mike

 

[MISAdmin]

One other thing to note...
I have had some users working with files that they want to make read only after they create them... I was showing them how to do that by going through "My Computer" or "Network Neighborhood" to get to the file they want, then right clicking on it, going into properties, ect ect...

I can't tell you how many times they continue to call me saying "I don't have the rights to make the file read-only anymore." When, in actuality, what they are doing is going to FILE, OPEN from within Microsoft Word (the program they are creating the files in...) then looking through the select window to find the file and right clicking on it there to get to Properties... You cannot set a read-only attribute on a file this way. It will let you view it, but not change it.

 

[thavil]

If you are still having problems, check to see if the folder that has the files in it, is also read-only. Change the folder to archive and then you should be able to change the individual files.

 

[cdogg]

Excellent point thavil! I didn't even think of that!

keepingbusy,
It's quite possible that your friend copied a folder from the cd, not just files. Just gid rid of any attributes on the folder and that should do the trick.

 

[keepingbusy]

A very large thankyou to all for your responses (I'll start sifting through them)
Regarding CDOGG's response "Are you sure? I have Win98SE. If I select....", yes I am sure. My friend has stated that the computer was hired to him and he believes it's the way it was set up. I have no idea why this is. In any case, we'll try these suggestions so kindly posted and hopefully this will resolve it.

Thanks again to all for taking the time.....
KB When everything else is said and done, there will be nothing else to say or do! God Bless everyone....