Windows 10: how to recover files attributed 'read only' from a former c: drive?

Hello.

I migrated to a ssd and i need to move some files so i can format the former c: drive.

i tried to change the security permissions, owners, users and all that with a guide i found online. i removed the inheritance and replaced child object permission entries and added new. i tried to change the attributes in cmd.

now im stuck. i just need to copy the files and i dont get why it isnt letting me i mean if it is read only it should let me copy them no?..

please help.

:)

 

Why can't I disable the "READ ONLY" attribute on a folder in WINDOWS 10?

the actual Folder name is "c\Crossover"
What is your purpose for wanting to do this?

Generally, one wants to let the Read-only attribute of a folder alone. It's not the same as for a file; it has special system uses, as explained in...

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/326549

You cannot view or change the Read-only or the System attributes of folders in Windows Server 2003, in Windows XP, in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

That is all true of Win 10 too.

(1) If a special folder has lost its Read-only or System attribute, one may turn it back on in DOS.

But turning them off is inadvisable.

(2) In File Explorer, one may put a check mark into a folder's Read-only attribute, but it doesn't turn it on

for the folder. Instead, all the files within the folder will have their Read-only attribute set.

 

Documents folder keeps changing to read-only.

Hi MAds121212,

The Read-only and System attributes is only used by File Explorer to determine whether the folder is a special folder, such as a system folder that has its view customized by Windows (example: My Documents, Favorites, Fonts, Downloaded Program Files), or
a folder that you customized by using the Customize tab of the folder's
Properties dialog box. The File Explorer will not allow Read-only or System attributes of folder to view or change.

In that case, you will need to use Attrib command at a command prompt to view or to remove the Read-only or the System attributes of folders. To do this:

1. Hold the Windows key + R, type cmd.exe then press
Enter.

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

Let us know how it goes.

 

It's probably easiest to try booting from an external boot disk and avoid all the permissions issues.

Download Kyhi's bootable disk (top of the Software and Apps section and create a bootable DVD or USB drive .

Boot your PC from that - you will see it looks like Windows, but it's not your installed Windows.

You will need to check the drive letters you see carefully- they will probably not be the same now.

============
Does your PC boot successfully from the SSD, and did you set your PC up to use AHCI not IDE when you migrated Windows to it? (You get better performance from your SSD if you've done that).

 

Thanks ill have a look at it..

is there a not easy way? even if it is harder i'll learn something...

 

Yes... get a geeky friend to do it for you...*Biggrin

Creating a boot disk and booting from it is a technique that's been around for many years. What makes it easy is that Kyhi's disk boots to Windows... else you'd be faced with doing everything with typed commands from a command prompt.

Which is what we did 25 years ago with MS-DOS and UNIX - before Windows.

This is the easy way. Unless you want to put both disks in boxes, and connect them both as USB disks to a working PC...

 

I use a Linux Mint LiveDVD to do such chores.

 

@Berton I think using a non-Windows environment could be confusing here- and even some of those terms might be unfamiliar.

 

Could be, I just don't find any great problems in simple file management. But then my first computer was back in '92 with MS-DOS 5 and Windows 3.1, didn't have much ease in doing it.

 

so unsatisfying this. why is this happening again? i'll do this bootable drive thing but ill still would like to know why it dosent let me copy the file.

 

Ok issue resolved. thanks for the help