random folders become read-only by themselves

By atomicrabbit
in Microsoft (Windows)

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atomicrabbit

Posted
Posted

Ok, this problem has been annoying me for quite some time.

Every once in a while, a random folder on my computer will become read-only BY ITSELF. There does not seem to be any consistency with it. It seems to happen at totally random intervals. I generally notice it when I am about to download something or save something. I go to choose the download/save location and windows tells me I cannot save to that location because it can't be written. I can fix the problem (temporarily) by going to the folder that caused the problem and setting it's Read-Only property off. That allows me to save, but doesn't stop the problem from happening again some other time (again, it's inconsistent, or at least SEEMS inconsistent).

Please help! I am running Windows XP Pro with the latest updates. If you need any other info, just ask.

btw, if i check the properties of any folder on my computer, it's already set to read-only and it's fine, but my understanding is that is normal and shouldn't affect the operation.

Enthusiast

atomicrabbit

Posted
  • Author
Posted
  google123 said:
sounds like something (software) or someone (little brother perhaps) is messing with your puter. :woot:

well not a chance that it's my little brother, since I don't have one, and secondly, I am the only person who uses my computer. Me myself and I... but I doubt it's one of my other personalities playing tricks on me :blink:

In regards to software being the culprit, is there any way to narrow it down? I forgot to mention a slightly important detail. It is happening on 2 of my computers. Both computers generally have the same software except for a few exceptions. I'll try to list them all:

Active@ File Recovery 7.1

Active@ Partition Recovery

Adobe CS3

Adobe Flash Player 9

AnyDVD

ATI drivers

AviSynth 2.5

Azureus (latest)

CCE SP2

ConTEXT

ConvertXtoDVD

DVD Audio Extractor 4.1.1

DVD Decrypter (last version made -- don't remember which)

DVD Rebuilder

DVDShrink

DVDFab

DynSite 1.11

Extensis Suitcase 9.2

GIF Movie Gear

Hijack This

Inno Setup

WS_FTP

IsoBuster

iTunes

JRE 6

jv16 PowerTools

KeyTweak

Symantec Antivirus Corporate 10.1

Windows Live Messenger

Messenger Plus! Live

Microangelo 6

MS.NET 1.0, 2.0 & 3.0

MS Office 2003

MS Visual Studio 6

Firefox 2.0.0.4

MSDN for VS6

MyODBC

Nero 7

PhotoZoom Pro

PowerDVD

PowerISO

QuickTIme

Recover My Files

Divx codec

Sony Sound Forge

SpeedFan

SQLyog

StuffIt

SUPER

TMPGEnc

TMPGEnc DVD Author

Total Video Converter

Tweak UI

UltraISO

Unlocker

VNC 4.2.9

Windows Media Player 11

Xvid codec

WinRAR

Enthusiast

atomicrabbit

Posted
  • Author
Posted
  Dave MB said:
Yes, but some software likes to be a bit stealthier.

Could you install HJT and post a log so we can see if you have anything lurking on the system?

I don't see how I can have the same spyware on 2 computers and I'm pretty anal with viruses and spyware on my computer so my computers are usually extremely clean, but i'll post a log anyways, here you go:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2

Scan saved at 11:02:25 PM, on 7/10/2007

Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)

MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16473)

Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\APC\POWERC~1\agent\pbeagent.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\APC\POWERC~1\server\PBESER~1.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\system32\bgsvcgen.exe

C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe

C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\DefWatch.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cba\pds.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\SYMANT~1\NSCTOP.EXE

C:\Program Files\Raxco\PerfectDisk\PDAgent.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Protexis\License Service\PSIService.exe

C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared Files\RichVideo.exe

C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\SavRoam.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\slserv.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe

C:\Program Files\Extensis\Suitcase Server 11.0\Suitcase Server.exe

C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\Rtvscan.exe

C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Workstation\vmware-authd.exe

C:\Program Files\Common Files\VMware\VMware Virtual Image Editing\vmount2.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\vmnat.exe

C:\Program Files\RealVNC\VNC4\WinVNC4.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ams_ii\hndlrsvc.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\MsgSys.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ams_ii\iao.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cba\xfr.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Tablet.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\vmnetdhcp.exe

C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\system32\WTablet\TabUserW.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Tablet.exe

C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\VPTray.exe

C:\Program Files\Extensis\Suitcase 9.2\Suitcase.exe

C:\Program Files\SpeedFan\speedfan.exe

C:\WINDOWS\RTHDCPL.EXE

C:\WINDOWS\system32\osd_vol.exe

C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\SetPoint.exe

C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools\daemon.exe

C:\WINDOWS\TWAIN_32\D66U\D066UUTY.EXE

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe

C:\Program Files\UltraMon\UltraMon.exe

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\Acrotray.exe

C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe

C:\Program Files\UltraMon\UltraMonTaskbar.exe

C:\Program Files\RhinoSoft.com\Serv-U\ServUTray.exe

C:\DOCUME~1\Adam\LOCALS~1\Temp\{70A817F9-5B66-4AB0-8D3C-1DA0BEAC74BE}\Stickies.exe

C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe

C:\Program Files\RhinoSoft.com\Serv-U\ServUDaemon.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe

C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\MOM.EXE

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\khalshared\KHALMNPR.EXE

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe

C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\ccc.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe

C:\Program Files\DvdReMake Pro\DvdReMakePro_3.5.3.exe

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe

C:\WINDOWS\system32\mmc.exe

C:\Program Files\RealVNC\VNC4\vncclipboard.exe

C:\Program Files\Hijack This\HiJackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.ca/

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896

R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local

O1 - Hosts: 127.255.255.255 serial.alcohol-soft.com

O1 - Hosts: 127.255.255.255 www.alcohol-soft.com

O1 - Hosts: 127.255.255.255 images.alcohol-soft.com

O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll

O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)

O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Conversion Toolbar Helper - {AE7CD045-E861-484f-8273-0445EE161910} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll

O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {BD905548-E9DA-4A37-98E7-3A67495DF69C} - (no file)

O3 - Toolbar: Adobe PDF - {47833539-D0C5-4125-9FA8-0819E2EAAC93} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [vptray] C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\VPTray.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [suitcase] "C:\Program Files\Extensis\Suitcase 9.2\Suitcase.exe" -Startup

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [speedFan] C:\Program Files\SpeedFan\speedfan.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RTHDCPL] RTHDCPL.EXE

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [osd_vol] C:\WINDOWS\system32\osd_vol.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Logitech SetPoint] "C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPoint\SetPoint.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Logitech Hardware Abstraction Layer] KHALMNPR.EXE

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [High Definition Audio Property Page Shortcut] HDAShCut.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools] "C:\Program Files\DAEMON Tools\daemon.exe" -lang 1033

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [D066UUtility] C:\WINDOWS\TWAIN_32\D66U\D066UUTY.EXE

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Alcmtr] ALCMTR.EXE

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ultraMon] "C:\Program Files\UltraMon\UltraMon.exe" /auto

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Acrobat Assistant 8.0] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\Acrotray.exe"

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe_ID0EYTHM] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Adobe\ADOBEV~1\Server\bin\VERSIO~2.EXE

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [stickies] C:\Program Files\Stickies\Stickies.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [serv-U TrayIcon] C:\Program Files\RhinoSoft.com\Serv-U\ServUTray.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [serv-U Daemon] C:\Program Files\RhinoSoft.com\Serv-U\ServUDaemon.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [startCCC] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [servUTrayIcon] C:\Program Files\RhinoSoft.com\Serv-U\ServUTray.exe

O8 - Extra context menu item: Append to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html

O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert link target to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html

O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert link target to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html

O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selected links to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECaptureSelLinks.html

O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selected links to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppendSelLinks.html

O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selection to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html

O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selection to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html

O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html

O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~1\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000

O8 - Extra context menu item: Sothink SWF Catcher - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SourceTec\SWF Catcher\InternetExplorer.htm

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll

O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~1\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL

O9 - Extra button: Sothink SWF Catcher - {E19ADC6E-3909-43E4-9A89-B7B676377EE3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SourceTec\SWF Catcher\InternetExplorer.htm

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sothink SWF Catcher - {E19ADC6E-3909-43E4-9A89-B7B676377EE3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SourceTec\SWF Catcher\InternetExplorer.htm

O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe

O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.google.ca

O16 - DPF: {156BF4B7-AE3A-4365-BD88-95A75AF8F09D} (HPSDDX Class) - http://www.hp.com/cpso-support-new/SDD/hpsddObjSigned.cab

O16 - DPF: {238F6F83-B8B4-11CF-8771-00A024541EE3} (Citrix ICA Client) - http://a516.g.akamai.net/f/516/25175/7d/ru...cat-no-eula.cab

O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupd...b?1184009572595

O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shoc...ash/swflash.cab

O23 - Service: Adobe LM Service - Adobe Systems - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe Systems Shared\Service\Adobelmsvc.exe

O23 - Service: Adobe Version Cue CS3 - Adobe Systems Incorporated - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe Version Cue CS3\Server\bin\VersionCueCS3.exe

O23 - Service: APC PBE Agent (APCPBEAgent) - APC - C:\PROGRA~1\APC\POWERC~1\agent\pbeagent.exe

O23 - Service: APC PBE Server (APCPBEServer) - APC - C:\PROGRA~1\APC\POWERC~1\server\PBESER~1.EXE

O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe

O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe

O23 - Service: B's Recorder GOLD Library General Service (bgsvcgen) - B.H.A Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\bgsvcgen.exe

O23 - Service: ##Id_String1.6844F930_1628_4223_B5CC_5BB94B879762## (Bonjour Service) - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe

O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe

O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe

O23 - Service: Symantec AntiVirus Definition Watcher (DefWatch) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\DefWatch.exe

O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Macrovision Europe Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe

O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe

O23 - Service: Intel Alert Handler - LANDesk Software Ltd. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ams_ii\hndlrsvc.exe

O23 - Service: Intel Alert Originator - LANDesk Software Ltd. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ams_ii\iao.exe

O23 - Service: Intel File Transfer - LANDesk Software Ltd. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\cba\xfr.exe

O23 - Service: Intel PDS - LANDesk Software Ltd. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\cba\pds.exe

O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe

O23 - Service: LiveUpdate - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\LUCOMS~1.EXE

O23 - Service: Symantec System Center Discovery Service (NSCTOP) - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\SYMANT~1\NSCTOP.EXE

O23 - Service: PDAgent - Raxco Software, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Raxco\PerfectDisk\PDAgent.exe

O23 - Service: PDEngine - Raxco Software, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Raxco\PerfectDisk\PDEngine.exe

O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\HPZipm12.exe

O23 - Service: ProtexisLicensing - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Protexis\License Service\PSIService.exe

O23 - Service: Cyberlink RichVideo Service(CRVS) (RichVideo) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared Files\RichVideo.exe

O23 - Service: SAVRoam (SavRoam) - symantec - C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\SavRoam.exe

O23 - Service: ServiceLayer - Nokia. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\PCSuite\Services\ServiceLayer.exe

O23 - Service: SmartLinkService (SLService) - Smart Link - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\slserv.exe

O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe

O23 - Service: Symantec SPBBCSvc (SPBBCSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe

O23 - Service: Suitcase Server - Extensis, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Extensis\Suitcase Server 11.0\Suitcase Server.exe

O23 - Service: Symantec AntiVirus - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\Rtvscan.exe

O23 - Service: TabletService - Wacom Technology, Corp. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Tablet.exe

O23 - Service: VMware Authorization Service (VMAuthdService) - VMware, Inc. - C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Workstation\vmware-authd.exe

O23 - Service: VMware DHCP Service (VMnetDHCP) - VMware, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\vmnetdhcp.exe

O23 - Service: VMware Virtual Mount Manager Extended (vmount2) - VMware, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\VMware\VMware Virtual Image Editing\vmount2.exe

O23 - Service: VMware NAT Service - VMware, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\vmnat.exe

O23 - Service: VNC Server Version 4 (WinVNC4) - RealVNC Ltd. - C:\Program Files\RealVNC\VNC4\WinVNC4.exe

--

End of file - 14197 bytes

Enthusiast

atomicrabbit

Posted
  • Author
Posted
  southside said:
This is something Windows does; It sets folders/subfolders randomly to "read-only". Even if you remove the read-only, they go back to being read-only.

Why and how to solve: Current status unknown.

From what I have read when searching the net, this is a normal process of windows xp and SHOULD NOT affect normal use and SHOULD NOT actually make the folder read only and not allow me to write anything to it. The problem is, that it's actually NOT allowing me to write to those folders and it seems to be doing it on it's own and randomly.

Enthusiast

atomicrabbit

Posted
  • Author
Posted

the problem JUST occurred now. I was downloading the xvid codec from xvid.org. Can anyone please offer some advice to at least troubleshoot the problem. Is there any way to monitor it so that I know whats going on in the background when it occurs? :(

Enthusiast

atomicrabbit

Posted
  • Author
Posted
  Cidinho said:
Hmm if I'm not wrong, you are getting a square on the check thing. That means any file in that folder is read-only. Just set it not to read-only.

No, if I uncheck it, and apply, and go back to the properties, it goes back to the square. But from what I've read elsewhere, it is normal in Windows XP and should not affect normal computer usage. The problem is, it SEEMS to be affect it :crazy:

Enthusiast

atomicrabbit

Posted
  • Author
Posted
  Lt-DavidW said:
There are two items in that logfile that I'm unsure about:

Protexis License Service

osd_vol.exe

Could you shed some light as to what these items are?

Not sure what protexis is. It must have been installed with another application although I don't know which one. It seems to be a media licensing app of some sort.

osd_vol.exe is the On Screen Display from Windows XP Media Center.

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

There is clearly some misunderstanding going on here!

The read attribute is not used on folders in XP! here this will shed some light on it.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326549

You Cannot View or Change the Read-Only or System Attribute of Folders

Unlike the Read-only attribute for a file, the Read-only attribute for a folder is typically ignored by Windows, Windows components and accessories, and other programs. For example, you can delete, rename, and change a folder with the Read-only attribute by using Windows Explorer. The Read-only and System attributes is only used by Windows Explorer to determine whether the folder is a special folder, such as a system folder that has its view customized by Windows (for example, My Documents, Favorites, Fonts, Downloaded Program Files), or a folder that you customized by using the Customize tab of the folder's Properties dialog box. As a result, Windows Explorer does not allow you to view or change the Read-only or System attributes of folders. When a folder has the Read-Only attribute set it causes Explorer to request the Desktop.ini of that folder to see if any special folder settings need to be set. It has been seen where if a network share that has a large amount of folders set to Read-only, it can cause Explorer to take longer then what is expected to render the contents of that share while it waits on the retrieval of the Desktop.ini files. The slower the network connectivity to the share the longer this process can take to the point where Explorer may timeout waiting for the data and render nothing or appear to hang.

This is what you would normal see on a folder..

post-14624-1185388097.png

"This behavior is by design."

I am not sure what your issue is - but I assure you it has nothing to do with that green box in read only on a folder.

This question comes up like once a week I think ;)

Enthusiast

atomicrabbit

Posted
  • Author
Posted
  BudMan said:
There is clearly some misunderstanding going on here!

The read attribute is not used on folders in XP! here this will shed some light on it.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326549

You Cannot View or Change the Read-Only or System Attribute of Folders

Unlike the Read-only attribute for a file, the Read-only attribute for a folder is typically ignored by Windows, Windows components and accessories, and other programs. For example, you can delete, rename, and change a folder with the Read-only attribute by using Windows Explorer. The Read-only and System attributes is only used by Windows Explorer to determine whether the folder is a special folder, such as a system folder that has its view customized by Windows (for example, My Documents, Favorites, Fonts, Downloaded Program Files), or a folder that you customized by using the Customize tab of the folder's Properties dialog box. As a result, Windows Explorer does not allow you to view or change the Read-only or System attributes of folders. When a folder has the Read-Only attribute set it causes Explorer to request the Desktop.ini of that folder to see if any special folder settings need to be set. It has been seen where if a network share that has a large amount of folders set to Read-only, it can cause Explorer to take longer then what is expected to render the contents of that share while it waits on the retrieval of the Desktop.ini files. The slower the network connectivity to the share the longer this process can take to the point where Explorer may timeout waiting for the data and render nothing or appear to hang.

This is what you would normal see on a folder..

post-14624-1185388097.png

"This behavior is by design."

I am not sure what your issue is - but I assure you it has nothing to do with that green box in read only on a folder.

This question comes up like once a week I think ;)

Thank you bud. Yes I have read this kb article from microsoft and that is what I was referring to when I said "it is normal in Windows XP and should not affect normal computer usage", I just used bad wording :blush:

My problem is *basically* that every once in a while when I try to download/save something from friefox, it will randomly set the folder I am downloading the file to, to read-only before the file is downloaded. The results in firefox returning an error saying that it cannot write to that folder. Once I open the properties of the folder, remove the green box (that you show in your screenshot), and apply it (to the folder only, not the contents), I can now save to that folder. It USUALLY only happens in Firefox.

Someone from another forum suggested that I turn of Auditing on the folder that it happens to the most, but I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary.

Thanks for the post

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

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Posted (edited)

Your misunderstanding what the green box means.. It does not mean READ attribute has been set.. To view the read attribute of the folder you would have to use the attrib command.

Sorry does not matter even if set - you can still create/write contents to that folder.. The only thing that would prevent you would be the NTFS permissions or possible SHARE permissions depending on how your accessing the folder.

here..

C:\>attrib test

C:\test

Still green box!

attrib +R test

C:\>attrib test

R C:\test

Still Green box!!

attrib -R test

Still Green Box

if explorer was showing you that the read attribute was set it would show this!

post-14624-1185390712_thumb.png

Yes you can toggle that green box to blank or check mark -- an this can be used to set the attribute on stuff below that folder.. But has NOTHING to do with your ability to put files there NOTHING

Test it your self!!!! Set the read attribute with attrib +r foldername -- then copy files to that folder!

edit: That green blob is there by design to allow you to toggle the setting for stuff underneath that folder. Nothing More! The read attribute on folder is not used for permissions on file creation/deleting - it is only used for the system to use the folder in special way. I thought you said your read the article ;)

If the box was empty.. how exactly would you toggle the system to mark all items below as NOT read only ;) With the blob it allows you to toggle the setting to Read only or NOT read only.. the old way of displaying this tri-mode flag if you will was the greyed out box with checkmark, etc..

That confused the hell out of the users just as much ;)

Edited by BudMan
Enthusiast

atomicrabbit

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  BudMan said:
Your misunderstanding what the green box means.. It does not mean READ attribute has been set.. To view the read attribute of the folder you would have to use the attrib command.

No, I'm not misunderstanding what it does, I KNOW what it does. All i was saying is that in order for me to be able to save to a specific folder after that folder was mysteriously set to read-only (i assume), I have to go to the properties and remove the green box, hit ok, then select "Apply to the folder only". Then and only then can I write to that folder again.

I'm not blaming it on the green filled box, but I do not know why it's happening and that's why I'm posting here. I'm frustrated because randomly, folders that I attempt to save to become read-only and don't allow anything to get saved/written to it until I do what I explained above. And it becomes tedious and a hassle to do over and over again. I was hoping someone here could at the very least provide me with a way to just debug the problem in order to find out what is causing it. track the problem,.. something... anything :wacko: ?? I have NO IDEA what would cause this problem.

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
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Posted
  atomicrabbit said:
randomly, folders that I attempt to save to become read-only and don't allow anything to get saved/written to it until I do what I explained above
Sorry Dude!! but folders "DO NOT" -- lets repeat so we are clear on that..

folders "DO NOT" become read only on on their own.. An that box does NOT show you the read only attribute anyway! Nor will it change the read attribute of the folder or even subfolders.

Where did you say you used the attrib command to view the read only attribute of the folder?? Where did you state that you used the attrib command to change it?

The grean box you talk about does NOT show you the read attribute that is set on the folder.. So yes you are NOT understanding the article, nor how the read only attribute even works on folders.

Even if it was set - it would have NO EFFECT on putting files in the folder.

--

That being said -- I have seen the error you talk about in FireFox.. All that I have ever had to do start the download again.. there is nothing you have to do on the folder, etc.

--

I can understand your frustration with an issue your not able to fix.. But Lets get OFF the freaking read attribute - it has NOTHING to do with it - NOTHING!!

I don't know what you think your doing -- but clicking the green box does not change the read attribute on a folder, period!! So how could your problem be related to the read only attribute being set?

The next time you have your issue, right click on the download that failed - and select restart. Has always worked for me, I have only seen it a couple of times on one of my machines - an the download always worked on a restart. So I never looked into it.

Next time it happens I will pay more attention what might be causing it - an if I can repeat the problem.. But I assure you it has NOTHING to do with the read only attribute - NOTHING!!

Enthusiast

atomicrabbit

Posted
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Posted
  BudMan said:
Next time it happens I will pay more attention what might be causing it - an if I can repeat the problem.. But I assure you it has NOTHING to do with the read only attribute - NOTHING!!

And I will too. I will try the attrib command as well to double check. Btw, I have tried re-downloading the file or whatever it is I'm downloading after I get the error, and it does NOT work until I do what I explained. I don't know why or how. If it's not the read-only attrib, then fine, that's my mistake, but SOMETHING is happening. Like I said, i'll check out the attrib command when it happens again, although it hasn't happened yet.

Thank you for your help.

Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

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Posted (edited)

Yeah -- when the bug shows up, clicking on the file on the web page or whatever to download again does not seem to work. But if you look in the firefox download manager an just right click an pick restart, or something like that. it has always worked.

I will keep an eye out for the error again

edit: btw - are using any download manager addons or changes? Or just the default firefox download manager?

Edited by BudMan
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