Windows 10: Files keep reverting to read only - access denied etc

So brief history - I had some driver issues and then corrupt files so I had to do clean install of my pc.

My C drive was wiped and had the windows reinstalled, and D drive not affected done by pc reset

Then I reinstalled most of my apps and games as well as updating windows to the most recent iteration, and then I was met with some interesting issues caused by the fact I couldn’t change steam to not be read only.

Low and behold I then fall into solutions changing ownership, changing your account to local, reducing uac notifications, creating a new user, load of clean up cmd commands - tried running safe mode and cmd with admin privileges...

Then i see a solution saying to clean install windows.

So I do that, format both drives, clean then both and allocate the C drive to be GPT.

Then after that first thing I do is to try and change a folder from read only to not read only. And once again hit the error again.

It says I am the owner, but I no longer have full access, but access is denied or failed to enumerate object when I try to give myself control. So I created a new user gave that admin, and now it says I have full control but still no luck.


Controlled file access isn’t running either and I have no programs installed other than chrome.

So I try and use cmd to remove attribute with the command:

Attrib -r +s C:\program_files_x86

But I get the answer file not found....

If anyone can please advise as this is driving me nuts. I can’t do anything at all.

Advice much needed.

:)

 

Files keep reverting to read only - access denied etc

So brief history - I had some driver issues and then corrupt files so I had to do clean install of my pc.

My C drive was wiped and had the windows reinstalled, and D drive not affected (done by pc reset)

Then I reinstalled most of my apps and games as well as updating windows to the most recent iteration, and then I was met with some interesting issues caused by the fact I couldn’t change steam to not be read only.

Low and behold I then fall into solutions changing ownership, changing your account to local, reducing uac notifications, creating a new user, load of clean up cmd commands - tried running safe mode and cmd with admin privileges...

Then i see a solution saying to clean install windows.

So I do that, format both drives, clean then both and allocate the C drive to be GPT.

Then after that first thing I do is to try and change a folder from read only to not read only. And once again hit the error again.

It says I am the owner, but I no longer have full access, but access is denied or failed to enumerate object when I try to give myself control. So I created a new user gave that admin, and now it says I have full control but still no luck.

Controlled file access isn’t running either and I have no programs installed other than chrome.

So I try and use cmd to remove attribute with the command:

Attrib -r +s C:\program_files_(x86)

But I get the answer file not found....

If anyone can please advise as this is driving me nuts. I can’t do anything at all.

Advice much needed.

 

Files keep reverting to read only - access denied etc

Hi and thanks for reaching out. My name is William. I'm a Windows technical expert. I'll be happy to help you out today.

So, it sounds like you are falling into a known but misunderstood aspect of the file system. For starters, Windows ignores the read-only file attribute at the folder level. So why do you see that option marked? Without being technical, there is a different
between "filled-in" and the folder attribute actually being checked.

To see what I am talking about, create a new folder on your desktop. Right-click it > Properties > note the box is filled-in. Select the box so it is no longer filled-in > OK > go back to it and you will see it is still filled in. The purpose is the folder
is notifying you that "Either check or uncheck this box and when you press OK, I will apply or remove the read-only attribute for the files in this folder."

As such, it means you must specify a folder & file in your command line or just use \* (wildcard). That said, you should not be manipulating the default attributes on system and program folders-files unless you or something incorrectly modified them previously.

 

Files keep reverting to read only - nothing works

Hi Greg,

I look and went through the Read only fixes and nothing worked.

In terms of the new account I tried making a standard one and it asks me to enter in the admin password - to which i do - result is access denied.

When giving the new account admin rights the same result as above access denied.

Tried in safe mode, changed ownership to the new user, added full control added it to the admin rights and then passed it to all sub folders.

No error messages shows the read only as unticked then as soon as I go back into the file properties it shows as read only again.

I have re-installed windows 10 already to try and get rid of this once - do I need to try again?