TechTips - All Folders in Windows Are Set to Read-only!

A common abnormality in Windows XP, Vista and Server is when all of your folders are set to Read-Only and you cannot change the attribute. Even when you go to the properties and set the folder to disable Read-Only it changes it back once you close the page. This is a real pain, but there is a fix that can be done in just seconds.

A simple command line execution is all this will take to fix. Follow these steps:

Click on Start
Click on Run
Type CMD hit Enter
Type CD and hit enter
Type attrib -r +s drive: and hit enter

This should do the trick for you . In case you don't understand the above syntax here is an example I did on my machine.

At the command line I typed (attrib -r +s C:masterNew Folder)

My folder that I wanted to disable the Read-Only option was located on the root of C: and in a folder called master. My folder was named New Folder. If you aren't sure how to get your path and everything an easy way to do this is to cut and paste. Here is how

Navigate down to the folder you want to "fix" and once in the folder look at the top of window you are in there should be an Address location. Copy all of the text in that bar and then when you get to your command line all you have to do is type attrib -r +s (and then right click and choose paste, make sure you right click to paste the text, in a command line you can't use the CTRL+V function you have to right click and choose paste text.)

Once you have your folder path you can hit enter and the command will run. It probably won't look like it did anything but it should have removed the Read-Only option. Go to your folder and check, look first to see if Read-Only is unchecked and then test to see if you can add files to the folder.

If you are using Vista the exact same command line should work, the only difference might be if the Run option isn't listed you can get to it by going to Start>>All Programs>>Accessories>>Run. Then follow the above steps.