Folders getting reset to read only

[Gustavus]

I have a folder, Software Store, on my archive drive in which I place folders with software files. In other words there may be a folder labeled CCleaner inside of which will be the exe file and often a text file with information about the software. I do not wish either the folder Software Store or any of the subfolders it contains to be read only, since that complicates things if I later have to update a file or change a text file. I can change the status of Software Store -- removing the check on Read only, and an operation takes place changing the read only status of all of the sub folders. I can then write to any of them -- but the next time I open Software Store it, and all of the contained sub folders, are read only again.

There must be some way to set the Software Store folder and all of the sub folders to not be read only -- and have them stay this way.

Anyone know how to do this?

Thanks for the help.

By the way, this is in Windows XP with SP3 installed.

 

[RebateMonger]

Are you actually having problems modifying or deleting any of the contained files or folders?

If you take a look, EVERY folder in XP shows "Read Only". It's just the way that XP (and Vista) is.

 

[Gustavus]

Thanks RebateMonger

Serious problems! If I forget to reset one of the subfolders from read only and attempt to write to the folder or even to modify the name of the folder, the computer hangs so solid I can't even get to the Task Manager with Cntrl-Alt-Del. Have to power down and reboot to get control. Usually I remember, but often enough to be a PINTA I forget and end up having to do a reboot. I can't believe that there isn't some way to have an archive in which it is possible to alter subfolders (write to them, edit contents, rename etc.) without havng to first change the folder status -- which will not then survive a reboot. I don't have a high opinion of Microsoft -- but this is even worse than I would expect from them.

 

[RebateMonger]

What you are experiencing is NOT "normal" Windows behavior.

This MS KB article says that the "Read Only" attribute displayed in the "Properties" dialog box is generally ignored by Windows and other programs. I've NEVER had to play with this attribute.

If you really want to change it, you can likely use the technique described in the article. But even if the "Read-Only" attribute WAS being recognized, you should, at most, get a Read Error. Your system shouldn't be freezing.

 

[Gustavus]

Thanks again RebateMonger

The KB article convinced me that something is wrong with the install of Windows XP on this machine. Even though the hardware is old, this is a new build that I installed Windows XP with SP3 too only a month or so ago. It replaced a workhorse computer that I had used for many years -- that one still had RDRAM to give you an idea of its age. I will swap it out and do a format and reinstall. The archive is backed up on an external harddrive so I can't lose anything valuable.

Thanks for the help.