Read only attribute wont change

Topic

New Reply

Hi,

I have moved folders from one server to another (from NT 4 to Win2003). The folder was shared on the NT machine, and I want the same users to access the shared folder on the new machine. But the folder acquired the read only attribute in the moving process.

I have followed all the usual advice about changing the permissions, but the changes wont stick. I also used the ‘attrib’ command in cmd.exe, but was still not able to change the flag.

My win2003 does not have AD set up yet, it is only set up to be a file and print server at this time.

Does nayone have any ideas?

Reply | Quote

Replies

The read only attribute is not used for folders. It is used for something else beginning with either Win2k or WinXP then Win2k3. Changing it will have no effect. You can set the sharing and security attributes you need on the Properties page.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

I have been right clicking the folder, selecting Properties, and then going into both the permissions for sharing and the security settings.

Am I not in the right place?

Reply | Quote

That is the correct place to set up a share and the permissions you wish. If you are planning to implement AD you may want to do that before messing around with sharing and permissions. I’m not very familiar with AD so maybe someone else can jump in with some better information on its ramifications.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

Hmmmm. I was hoping not to have to do that just yet.

I have inherited an extremely bad implentation of NT where some users are in the domain, others are not etc.

My plan was to get some of the shared folders across to the new machine to prove some other points about implementation (no need to go into those here).

And, as always, I was hoping there would be an easy answer. I hae seen this before when I had to shift profiles from local (machine) to domain. I would copy the local profile into a folder on the client machine and then copy desktop and start menu items when logged on with the domain profile. When I tried to import messages in Outlook express I found that the folder was read only. I was able to copy just that folder to the root of the drive, and by doing that I was able to change the Read only attribute.

So I have tried that again on the server, and have not been able to get it to work. I have tried creating the account from another machine (so that I am the owner) but still no joy. If I try to set Full Control for Creator Owner, that does not stick either.

So, maybe you are right, AD here I come. Goodbye weekend.

Reply | Quote

On the Win2k3 machine have you created a local account in the local administrators group?

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

Do you mean a local administrator? or an account for me on the local machine? I thought that I could not log on locally to the server with anything past win2k. I have a local adminstrator. I tried the creation of the folder while logged on as the local admin, but had the same issue of not being able to change the read only attribute.

I have looked more closely at the set up, and there’s more.

The directory I was trying to create was on d: The whole of d: is read only, as is c:

But I can create directories and copy files to the directories so I can obviously write to those. My problem comes when users wish to access the accounting files. That accounting file will not open because it claims it is read only …. and I cannot change that attribute at any level.

Reply | Quote

Is there some reason you continue to be worried about read only on the folders? It makes no difference to sharing and user permissions. You should be able to set sharing and permissions for your users regardless of the read only attribute. See this KB article: You Cannot View or Change the Read-Only or System Attribute of Folders for more information.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

No, Joe, no more reason to be worried about permissions, just about being such a dork!!

It was the permissions on the sharing that were the issue. I set that to full control and bingo.

Thanks for your help. Having someone to ask questions of made me use the right words and really think about the problem. It is something that you miss as a sole operator in an IT role.

Thank you

Reply | Quote

You’re quite welcome. Glad you got it worked out.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

You’re quite welcome. Glad you got it worked out.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

No, Joe, no more reason to be worried about permissions, just about being such a dork!!

It was the permissions on the sharing that were the issue. I set that to full control and bingo.

Thanks for your help. Having someone to ask questions of made me use the right words and really think about the problem. It is something that you miss as a sole operator in an IT role.

Thank you

Reply | Quote

Is there some reason you continue to be worried about read only on the folders? It makes no difference to sharing and user permissions. You should be able to set sharing and permissions for your users regardless of the read only attribute. See this KB article: You Cannot View or Change the Read-Only or System Attribute of Folders for more information.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

Do you mean a local administrator? or an account for me on the local machine? I thought that I could not log on locally to the server with anything past win2k. I have a local adminstrator. I tried the creation of the folder while logged on as the local admin, but had the same issue of not being able to change the read only attribute.

I have looked more closely at the set up, and there’s more.

The directory I was trying to create was on d: The whole of d: is read only, as is c:

But I can create directories and copy files to the directories so I can obviously write to those. My problem comes when users wish to access the accounting files. That accounting file will not open because it claims it is read only …. and I cannot change that attribute at any level.

Reply | Quote

On the Win2k3 machine have you created a local account in the local administrators group?

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

Hmmmm. I was hoping not to have to do that just yet.

I have inherited an extremely bad implentation of NT where some users are in the domain, others are not etc.

My plan was to get some of the shared folders across to the new machine to prove some other points about implementation (no need to go into those here).

And, as always, I was hoping there would be an easy answer. I hae seen this before when I had to shift profiles from local (machine) to domain. I would copy the local profile into a folder on the client machine and then copy desktop and start menu items when logged on with the domain profile. When I tried to import messages in Outlook express I found that the folder was read only. I was able to copy just that folder to the root of the drive, and by doing that I was able to change the Read only attribute.

So I have tried that again on the server, and have not been able to get it to work. I have tried creating the account from another machine (so that I am the owner) but still no joy. If I try to set Full Control for Creator Owner, that does not stick either.

So, maybe you are right, AD here I come. Goodbye weekend.

Reply | Quote

That is the correct place to set up a share and the permissions you wish. If you are planning to implement AD you may want to do that before messing around with sharing and permissions. I’m not very familiar with AD so maybe someone else can jump in with some better information on its ramifications.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

I have been right clicking the folder, selecting Properties, and then going into both the permissions for sharing and the security settings.

Am I not in the right place?

Reply | Quote

The read only attribute is not used for folders. It is used for something else beginning with either Win2k or WinXP then Win2k3. Changing it will have no effect. You can set the sharing and security attributes you need on the Properties page.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote