Unable to remove Read-Only attribute from folder

Article ID: 256614 - View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q256614

Notice
This article applies to Windows 2000. Support for Windows 2000 ends on July 13, 2010. The Windows 2000 End-of-Support Solution Center
(http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=http%3a%2f%2fsupport.microsoft.com%2fwin2000)
is a starting point for planning your migration strategy from Windows 2000. For more information see the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy
(http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/)
.
For a Microsoft Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 version of this article, see 326549
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326549/ )
.
Notice
This article applies to Windows 2000. Support for Windows 2000 ends on July 13, 2010. The Windows 2000 End-of-Support Solution Center
(http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=http%3a%2f%2fsupport.microsoft.com%2fwin2000)
is a starting point for planning your migration strategy from Windows 2000. For more information see the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy
(http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/)
.
Expand all | Collapse all

SYMPTOMS

You may be unable to remove the Read-Only attribute from a folder using Windows Explorer. In addition, some programs may display error messages when you try to save files to the folder.
Back to the top | Give Feedback

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the folder is customized. You can customize a folder by clicking Customize this folder on the View menu. Many programs also customize folders (for example, the Fonts folder comes with a customization as part of the standard system configuration).
Back to the top | Give Feedback

STATUS

This behavior is by design.
Back to the top | Give Feedback

WORKAROUND

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322756
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/ )
How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

Windows Explorer uses the Read-Only attribute to determine whether or not the folder is customized. To work around this behavior, you can configure Windows Explorer to use the System flag instead of the Read-Only flag. To do this, use the following steps.

NOTE: Some programs do not operate correctly with folders that have the System attribute configured.
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
  2. Locate the following registry key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer
  3. On the Edit menu, point to New, click DWORD Value, and then type the following registry value name:
    UseSystemForSystemFolders
  4. Right-click the new value, and then click Modify.
  5. Type 1, and then click OK.
  6. Quit Registry Editor.
  7. After you make this change to the registry, you must change the Read-Only attribute for all affected folders by using the attrib command at a command prompt (Command.com or Cmd.exe). Type attrib /? at the command prompt to view the syntax for the attrib command. For example, to change the Read-Only attribute to System for the C:\Test folder, use the following command:
    attrib -r +s c:\test
Back to the top | Give Feedback

Properties

Article ID: 256614 - Last Review: January 27, 2007 - Revision: 5.6
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 95
Keywords: 
kbenv kbprb KB256614
Back to the top | Give Feedback

Give Feedback

 
Back to the topBack to the top