Thanks for your help,
Can be any file .doc .jpg .txt, zip seemingly at the computers whim.
Right click to open properties window then the three boxes Read only,
Hidden, Archive.
Don't really know but I get no message re permissions just the box
usually but not always reticks itself read only. Only message I get
occasionally is something about read only, but when the box won't
untick nothing happens if I want to rename etc. Sometimes all operates
perfectly all "seems" unrelated to programs running or run in a
session
Not my files I'm afraid!
Yep! The problem could be elsewhere, but the burning question is
where?
Might just take a deep breath and format and reinstall XP as it seems
to be strange and becoming a frustrating problem, as you have guessed
I'm no computer whizz.
Thanks again.
Brad.
Bob, there is a new marking in the read only attribute box for folders - a
square or block. If you click that box several times, you see the typical
empty box, the check in the box (dimmed or normal), and then the square.
The square represents an value termed "indeterminate." This means that
there is the *possibility* of permissions blocking access to a file. I've
never seen this marking present for a file - only folders.
If you are using a folder's properties sheets to remove read only from
several files within that folder, it's not going to work. Change the
attributes on each file individually using properties sheets or switch to a
command line to accomplish the task.
The key of the matter here is that you are accessing files not folders and
that you are being blocked from manipulating them. This can be due to a
system protected file or a file protected by permissions or other security
controls.
Most often we see issues of "ownership" in the newsgroups. XP will protect
a file for it's creator/owner. To work around that, one needs to "take
ownership" of the file. Once that is done, it can be worked with again.
How To Take Ownership of a File or Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421
System files: XP will protect system files from changes. You may be denied
access or changes may appear to take place only to revert to original state
within seconds.
You just don't want to mess with this area unless you have a really good
reason. In these advanced situations, users usually know how to accomplish
the desired changes. This is why I asked you earlier for examples of files.
If you were trying to "clean up," you might have been hitting on some files
that are actively being maintained by the operating system. Various *.LOG
files is just an example of this situation. Some can be safely deleted but
a number of them should be left alone.
You mention wanting to reinstall XP. That could be where this all started.
Depending on how XP was repaired/reinstalled, the operating system may not
see your old files as yours. Instead it continues to protect them for the
"other you" (when you had your old user account). This gets resolved using
the "ownership" steps in the article referenced above. Take ownership of
the files and you regain access to them.
The last thing is "other security controls." If the files were previously
encrypted using XP or a third party tool, they need to be unencrypted
(decrypted?), before they can be accessed freely.
NOTE: For beginners or not so savvy users, I do not recommend encrypting
files with XP's EFS. If they insist, I strongly suggest practicing with
test files and folders since a single mis-step in handling the security
keys can cause great inconvenience and a loss of data.
