Windows 10: Read-Only attribute cannot be removed, denied access to change through console.

Okay, so i was messing around with permissions for a guest account on my computer which runs windows 10 home, and i think thats where i messed something up, but the next day, i got on and all of the programs that i run, were giving me errors of not being able to save files because their location paths were read only or "Access Denied" when trying to write or create new folders on the main C: disk...

So i went and looked at it and sure enough, the Read-Only box had been filled in on all of the folders in the C: drive... and while Windows

may ignore the read-only attribute on files, HOWEVER, Programs do not, and they only view it as a READ-ONLY FILE, and as such, they will not save or modify any files in the C: drive, so basically my computer has been useless now for 2 days, i've tried multiple times to change attributes, reset permissions, i have taken ownership of every single file in the C: drive, i have full administrative perms, as well as System... When i tried removing the attributes through console, it said Access Denied, or Couldn't change attributes on Hidden Folder, and as such, it literally didn't change a thing after letting it run for over 2 hours, crunching through all the files on my computer.

I've tried running the console in administrator mode, doesnt help either... at this point i have no idea what to do anymore, so please somebody help me with a proper answer, and not "Windows just Ignores the read-only filled in box so its not important"


Thanks!


-- Flail

:)

 

Read-Only attribute cannot be removed, denied access to change through console.

Okay, so i was messing around with permissions for a guest account on my computer which runs windows 10 home, and i think thats where i messed something up, but the next day, i got on and all of the programs that i run, were giving me errors of not being
able to save files because their location paths were read only or "Access Denied" when trying to write or create new folders on the main C: disk...

So i went and looked at it and sure enough, the Read-Only box had been filled in on all of the folders in the C: drive... and while Windows

may ignore the read-only attribute on files, HOWEVER, Programs do not, and they only view it as a READ-ONLY FILE, and as such, they will not save or modify any files in the C: drive, so basically my computer has been useless now for 2 days,
i've tried multiple times to change attributes, reset permissions, i have taken ownership of every single file in the C: drive, i have full administrative perms, as well as System... When i tried removing the attributes through console, it said Access Denied,
or Couldn't change attributes on Hidden Folder, and as such, it literally didn't change a thing after letting it run for over 2 hours, crunching through all the files on my computer.

I've tried running the console in administrator mode, doesnt help either... at this point i have no idea what to do anymore, so please somebody help me with a proper answer, and not "Windows just Ignores the read-only filled in box so its not important"

Thanks!

-- Flail

 

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.

 

File Attributes automaticly change in Windows 10

We appreciate updating us. It is also possible that the file attributes automatically changing is because of the application itself every time the file is accessed and the application has full control of it.

In the meantime, you can try removing the full control of the file by following these steps:

• Right-click the file then Properties.
• Select Security tab and click Edit button.
• Choose checkbox Deny, click Apply then OK and check if the issue still persists.

Let us know if you need further assistance.