I can't get the directories to not be read only

Hey all,

I have copied the Documents and Settings folder from one machine to another and now onto the new machine which has windows vista on it.

But the files are all read only. So i right click>properties and uncheck the read-only box so it is completely clear and it says do i want to apply to all subfolders and files and i say yes...it seems to go through the process but then i go back after to check and it is REad-Only again

any ideas?

cheers,

RF

Been my experience all folders in XP and Vista are read only and there does not appear to be a way to change this display.

This does not mean the files contained in them are read only. They are not. You can check by going to a files properties.

You have to change the ownership of that folder. You can do that by opening the folder properties, goto security then click advance. After that, go to owner tab then select your account then check the replace owner on subcontainers and object then click OK.

NOTE: your account must be an administrative one.

Hi Zynder,
That is what i thought...but it doesn't seem to work
It goes through the process, but makes no difference....

@wanderer2 - i have tried renaming files/folders and it won't let me...so i guess it is read-only

RF

Are you connected to a domain? I assume you're using an adminstrator account right?

no domain, just a workgroup. Yes using an administrative account..on Vista Business.

Lets get specific. What folder in Vista are you working with? I have vista ultimate so we can compare.

"i have tried renaming files/folders and it won't let me"

Go to c:\temp
Right mouse click and select "new"
Do you get a list of all sorts of stuff like folder, file etc?

What happens if you copy some of these files to your admin user folder and then change the ownership? can you set to not readonly then?

ok, i am working with Vista Business.

Other folders are fine to rename and work with. It is JUST the one that i have dragged over from another machine....Documents and Settings

thanks

RF

Sounds like a permissions issue to me. Generallly, 'Documents and Settings' folders are set to user accounts so you'll need an Admin account to take ownership of the files/folders.

hey Aitken.

Yeah as far as i am aware i am an admin on my vista machine...

cheers

rf

Your not the administrator on vista your just a power user, they use differnt names but Im just using that to keep it simple...

First go show hidden files and folders
Secound deleate any files that should not be in that folder like "Thumbs" or "Desktop" ect etc (I know these dont do much but delete them any way...
Third select all files and untick read only
cut these files and move them to a new folder that your vista computer has made.
FourthRestart your computer and then you should be able to delete the other folder that was read only...

that what I normally do when I get a problem like that...