Windows 10: File Explorer does not honor the READ-ONLY attribute

Discus and support File Explorer does not honor the READ-ONLY attribute in Windows 10 Network and Sharing to solve the problem; All, I stumbled across a situation that I believe is a problem in the Windows 10 File Explorer implementation. The File Explorer does not honor the... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Network and Sharing' started by CasualHockeyFan, May 26, 2020.

  1. File Explorer does not honor the READ-ONLY attribute


    All, I stumbled across a situation that I believe is a problem in the Windows 10 File Explorer implementation. The File Explorer does not honor the file READ-ONLY attribute.


    Proof:

    Open a CMD prompt

    Make mkdir \tmp or go to cd \tmp

    Using NotePad create a test file - we'll call it "test.txt"

    Assign the READ-ONLY flag using attrib attrib +R test.txt

    Try to delete the file del test.txt and you'll get "Access is denied." message

    This is the expected behavior.


    Now, open File Explorer

    Go to the C:\tmp directory

    Right-click the test.txt file and pick Properties to confirm the READ-ONLY attribute is set it should be

    Close the Properties

    Right-click the "test.txt" file and pick delete

    BOOM - the file is gone. No confirmation or anything.


    The same behavior is exhibited in both OneDrive and non-OneDrive locations.


    System Information:

    OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise

    Version 10.0.18363 Build 18363

    Other OS Description Not Available

    OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation

    System Name XXXXXXX

    System Manufacturer LENOVO

    System Model 20LD001HUS

    System Type x64-based PC

    System SKU LENOVO_MT_20LD_BU_Think_FM_ThinkPad X1 Yoga 3rd

    Processor IntelR CoreTM i7-8650U CPU @ 1.90GHz, 2112 Mhz, 4 Cores, 8 Logical Processors

    BIOS Version/Date LENOVO N25ET52W 1.38 , 11/27/2019

    SMBIOS Version 3.0

    Embedded Controller Version 1.17

    BIOS Mode UEFI

    BaseBoard Manufacturer LENOVO

    BaseBoard Product 20LD001HUS

    BaseBoard Version SDK0J40697 WIN

    Platform Role Mobile

    Secure Boot State Off

    PCR7 Configuration Binding Disabled by Policy

    Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS

    System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32

    Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1

    Locale United States

    Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "10.0.18362.752"

    User Name XXXXXXX\xxxxxxx

    Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time

    Installed Physical Memory RAM 16.0 GB

    Total Physical Memory 15.8 GB

    Available Physical Memory 4.47 GB

    Total Virtual Memory 26.8 GB

    Available Virtual Memory 5.91 GB

    Page File Space 11.0 GB

    Page File C:\pagefile.sys

    Kernel DMA Protection Off

    Virtualization-based security Running

    Virtualization-based security Required Security Properties

    Virtualization-based security Available Security Properties Base Virtualization Support, DMA Protection, UEFI Code Readonly, SMM Security Mitigations 1.0, Mode Based Execution Control

    Virtualization-based security Services Configured

    Virtualization-based security Services Running

    Device Encryption Support Meets prerequisites

    A hypervisor has been detected. Features required for Hyper-V will not be displayed.

    :)
     
    CasualHockeyFan, May 26, 2020
    #1

  2. Change file attribute to 'unhide'

    Hello Walt,

    Thank you for posting your concern in Microsoft Community and welcome to the Windows 10 Family.

    I suggest you to follow the below steps to change the attribute of any file/folder to unhide.

    Step A: Show Hidden files

    1. Open Windows Explorer(win logo key+E) or My computer.

    2. Now click on View on top of the window.
    3. Untick ‘Hidden items’ in the options.

    Step B: Change file attribute

    1. Once the hidden file is located, right click on the file/folder you want to change the attribute for.

    2. Go to ‘properties’, untick the box facing hidden.

    3. Now, Click on ‘apply’ and then ‘ok’.

    Hope it helps.

    Thank You.
     
    Sayan_Ghosh, May 26, 2020
    #2
  3. Marie Ave Win User
    Remove read only from files

    Hi,

    Read-only is a file attribute, or a characteristic that the operating system assigns to a file. Files can be only opened or read with this attribute active. You cannot delete, change, or rename any file that’s been flagged as read-only.

    To change the read-only attribute, follow the steps below:


    • Right-click the file or folder icon that you wanted to modify.

    • Remove the check mark by the Read-Only item in the file’s
      Properties
      dialog box.

      The attributes are found at the bottom of the General tab.

    • Click Apply then OK.

    Hope this helps. Let us know if you need further assistance.
     
    Marie Ave, May 26, 2020
    #3
  4. File Explorer does not honor the READ-ONLY attribute

    Read Only Attribute in Win 10

    Hi Alexandru,

    Thank you for posting on Microsoft Communities.

    I will be glad to help you with the issue you have with the computer. I understand the frustration when things don't work the way it should.

    You may experience any of the following symptoms:

    • You cannot view or change the Read-only or System attributes of a folder by using the
      Properties dialog box for the folder. For example, you may experience the following symptoms:
      • When you view the General tab of a folder's Properties dialog box, the
        Read-only check box is not available, and there is no check box to change the System attribute.
      • You click to clear or click to select the Read-only check box on the
        General tab of a folder's Properties dialog box. When you click
        OK or Apply, you receive the following message:
        Confirm Attribute Changes

        You have chosen to make the following attribute changes:

        unset read-only

        Do you want to apply this change to this folder only, or do you want to apply it to all subfolders and files as well?
        If you click Apply changes to this folder only, the Read-only attribute is changed for all the files in the folder. However, the Read-only attribute is not changed for the folder, its subfolders, or any files in its subfolders. If you click
        Apply changes to this folder, subfolders, and files, the Read-only attribute is changed for all files in the folder and all files in the subfolders. However, the Read-only attribute is not changed for the folder or its subfolders.
    • Some programs may display error messages when you try to save files to a folder that uses the Read-only or System attribute. As a result, these programs may not be able to save files to the folder.
    To work around this problem, use the Attrib command at a command prompt (Cmd.exe) to view or to remove the Read-only or the System attributes of folders. To view or to remove the Read-only or the System attributes of folders
    Warning If you remove the Read-only or System attribute from a folder, it may appear as a ordinary folder and some customizations may be lost. For example, Windows customizes the Fonts folder and provides a special folder view that permits you
    to hide variations, such as bold and italic. It also permits you to change the folder's view settings in ways that are specific to fonts. If you remove the Read-only and System attributes of the Fonts folder, these customized view settings are not available.
    For folders that you have customized by using the Customize tab of the folder's
    Properties dialog box, the folder icon and other other customizations may be lost when you remove the Read-only attribute.

    If a program cannot save files to a folder with the Read-only attribute, such as My Documents, change the Read-only attribute to System by using the Attrib command at a command prompt.

    Note If the Run command is not listed on the
    Start menu, do the following: Click Start, click
    All Programs, click Accessories, and then click
    Run.

    To remove the Read-only attribute and to set the System attribute, use the following command:

    attrib -r +s drive:\<path>\<foldername>
    For example, to remove the Read-only attribute and to set the System attribute for the C:\Test folder, use the following command:
    attrib -r +s c:\test
    Be aware that some programs may not operate correctly with folders for which the System attribute and the Read-only attribute are set. Therefore, use the following command to remove these attributes:
    attrib -r -s c:\test

    Hope this information is helpful. Please post in case you have any further issues, we will be glad to help you further.

    Thank you.
     
    Ruth Buruga, May 26, 2020
    #4
Thema:

File Explorer does not honor the READ-ONLY attribute

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