'read only' folders

Hi,

So, I've been having a problem with my Windows XP Media Center Edition on my home laptop (not attached to a larger network)...

The photo folders - actually most folders - are defaulting to read only status, and I'll go through the process of removing that setting, everything will work fine, and then I'll go back into 'properties' to make sure it worked, and it's right back into 'read only' status.

This wouldn't trouble me much, but when I start moving pictures from folder to folder, suddenly, I can't open that new folder, or it can no longer find the pics...

I do have administrator access.

Is there a patch available that can fix this?

thanks in advance,
s1mpl1fy

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326549/en-us
There's some good info in this link too http://support.microsoft.com/kb/812003/en-us Especially the 'global' options and 'same view' settings.
And one more: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308419/en-us

 

Well, this problem has returned...

I'm running Windows XP Media SP2 (because SP3 won't upload...separate problem...)

I have no idea how I worked around it before, although I do know the suggestion dlb made, if it did work then, does not fix anything now. When I tried doing the attrib -r +s it tells me 'parameter format not correct -'

An update: if I create a brand new folder, and then open the 'properties' the 'read only' box is filled in green, not empty and not a check mark. When I try and remove that green box and 'apply', it shows that it worked. I close and reopen the properties, and *ding*, the green box is there again. (it doesn't matter if I create the folder in the base C: drive or in some random subfolder in 'my documents', it always has this green box)

If I pull something out of a folder, for instance, move a picture to the desktop, then try and put it back in the folder, I get: 'cannot move ".": access is denied. Make sure the disk is not full or write protected and the file is not currently in use.'

When I try and copy things onto a DVD or CD, I get: 'Windows encountered a problem when trying to copy this file. What do you want Windows to do?' Well, I want Windows to COPY MY FILES! It gives me a retry, skip, cancel set of options and never gets out of this rut, and never makes copies.

We're talking about hundreds of photo files that I don't want to open individually, rename and save somewhere else. I need my operating system to actually operate.

Any ideas?

 

Is it XP Pro or Home?
When you do a properties of a folder, is there a SECURITY tab?
Do a properties of drive C: does it say NTFS?

 

- It is Windows XP Media Center Edition running Service Pack 2

- No, on the properties of a folder, I only get tabs for 'general', 'sharing' and 'customize'

- Yes, the C: drive is NTFS

Thanks for the quick response... I'm hoping to get this figured out before I lose all patience, throw the machine out the window and go to the Mac store.

 

Lets download and install the Microsoft Security Configuration Manager tool. I am suspecting that inherited permissions is what is causing your problem. When you get the security tab....get back and we can continue.


1. Download Security Configuration Manager Tool (x86 (Intel version) is SCESP4I.EXE) from Microsoft.
2. Double click the SCESP4I.EXE and extract the contents to a folder on your hard disk.
3. Go to the folder where the SCESP4I.exe contents are extracted, locate the Setup.inf (Setup Information) file.
4. Right click on Setup.inf and select Install.
Reboot computer after installation finished.
You can now see the security tab when you view the properties for the drive, file or folder. Warning though, misconfigured permissions will make your drives, files and folders inaccessible to everybody, including Administrator account will also be locked out from the resources. Beside, some advice on permissions setting is that Deny Permissions take precedence over Allow Permissions, regardless of your group membership, and Administrators are members of the User’s group, by default. So if you deny access to the User’s group, Administrators won’t be able to access too. So, try to Uncheck Allow, rather than using Deny.

 

OK, I now can see the security settings for the files and folders... THANKS!

Sooooo.... now what?

 

OK....lets create a new folder as you have done in the past and lets call it DODAH.

Go to the properties of DODAH and click the SECURITY tab.
Click the ADVANCED button

What do you have in the permissions entries window AND are any of the boxes checked on the bottom of the page.