Issue:
- most if not all folders are set to read only despite no check mark but shaded out box.
- only issue (at this moment) is a security conflict with Thunderbird
Done:
- Full Spyware & Antivirus Scan
- System Restore
- Cmd Console using attrib -r -s command based on MS Knowledge Base Article
- David Cromwell's Clear Attributes context extension
Any ideas & suggestions are greatly appreciated.
I had something similar bothering me. Turned out to be the thumbs.db file. When you have a folder with images or videos on thumbnail view, Windows by default creat that file to store the thumbs and speedup the display time on subsequent viewings. You can set that file to non read-only, but it always reverts back after either a reboot , a change in the folder, or sometimes simply viewing the folders contents.
At least that was in my case. Most of the time, it's harmless. However I have currently disabled the thumbs.db file creation. And took ownership and full control of every folder on my PC (with advanced sharing).
That's the default for a specific system file. By XP default you can't set read-only attributes for folders/subfolders. The work-a-round are the command/switch above in my post.
Essentially the system is telling me they're not read only; yet, they are behaving like read only. See there's no check mark in the screenshot but, just the shading.
Edit: Wondering if the registry isn't corrupted?
well, i've occasionally had luck by forcing a particular file/folder to read-only, then clearing it.
btw, where did you get your info about folders not having settable attributes? every xp system i've ever had has had an option on every folder for read-only and hidden.
well, i've occasionally had luck by forcing a particular file/folder to read-only, then clearing it.
Done, done & done without success. It's strange behaviour
btw, where did you get your info about folders not having settable attributes? every xp system i've ever had has had an option on every folder for read-only and hidden.
That's what I thought. Oops! my bad. That's an old MS article. The command prompts still should've worked though.
so, let's come at this from a new angle...
you say the only problem right now is with thunderbird. what if you copy all the files in the 'locked' folder to a new folder and point tb to THAT folder? wait, from that screen, it looks like that's your profile folder perhaps, yes? maybe that won't work. i don't use tb so i don't know the file structure. i assume it's the same as ff with jars and xuls. sounds tricky, maybe.
another thing to check: it's possible that that folder is inheriting those rights from a parent folder. are you using simple file sharing? if so, you can go to a top level (c:), right-click and select 'sharing and security.' go to the security tab, then click 'advanced.' take a look at inherited properties. maybe you'll find something there.
let us know...
I believe this problem has something do to with sharing files over a network. Don't know any other info tho.
I've no sharing setup but....wtf...something just shut down my anti-virus program. I think there may be the problem.
that wasn't the problem but, I'm trying to figure out how the heck I got a bunch of Trojans in my FF profile.
Thanks for the link/help guys.
I forgot to mention that the shaded checkbox means that the read-only is partial, ie. only some parts of the folder are read-only. Nothing more than that. It's the way of Windows to tell you that there are read-only files within the folder, but the folder is not read-only.
Trojans? That comes from unsafe browsing... tsk tsk!
Ah & doh! That makes sense especially in the Doc Settings Folders.
Unsafe browsing? moi? 
Edit: Figured the issue out. Had installed HD Cleaner which seemed to override settings even though I had designated areas off limits. Note that Major Geeks has removed this program from their recommendation list as well.
Aqua-Soft Forums