Can't unmark Read only from folder.

logicearth said:

This again...geeze how many times must we tell people. The read-only attribute in Folder Properties does not apply to folders. (It says so right there next to it.) The box is always a filled in block on Folder Properties no matter what. It will always display as an intermediate value. A check box at three states: Unchecked - Intermediate - Checked.

Most likely you need to reset the permissions of this folder. I'm going to guess it was setup from another installation of Windows, those permissions are setup for that installation.

Unfortunately, not ALL of us are as clued up as you are. I have been trying to sort this problem out ever since I upgraded to Win 10 from 8.1. It has got so annoying, that I have reverted back to 8.1 on my laptop. My other PC is OK as that was a clean boot. If 8 hadn't come with this machine, with an upgrade to 8.1, I would revert back.

Unfortunately, as with many of your readers, Logicearth, a lot of the jargon means not a lot! Now, give me the inside of a Radio or Radar set, and I would probably lose you. I often try these suggestions, only to find that afer step 2 or 3, I don't appear to see what I should be looking for.

Now! Come on and be a bit more helpful to us numpties (probably in your book) what to do step by step and do NOT assume we know what the Hell you are refering to. Remember the old say, 'A picture replaces a thousand words!

I have tried severeal methods from different MVPs and all seem to be different. So ------------ looks like I will have to keep on trying.

Try running "control userpassword2" and then setting your personal account as also having administrator status. After doing that, restart computer, and then see if you are able to read all your files as desired. This may be what worked for me, so I pass it on (even if I am not sure what worked) - because I am free of the read-only problem now. I have Windows 10, of course.

AvSion said:

Try running "control userpassword2" and then setting your personal account as also having administrator status. After doing that, restart computer, and then see if you are able to read all your files as desired. This may be what worked for me, so I pass it on (even if I am not sure what worked) - because I am free of the read-only problem now. I have Windows 10, of course.

Thanks for your reply. How do I run "control userpassword2"? Not come across that one before.

right click on the windows button (bottom left corner) and choose Run.
And it is passwords2 with an s.

I had the same problem, but what finally worked for me was disabling OneDrive so that it no longer starts when Windows starts. I only found this when I kept getting Windows notifications that two apps were starting each time which I may not need. One of them was OneDrive. It suggested that if I don't want to use it then I disable it, and gave me a link to the list of start-up programs. Once I had disabled it, all my permissions were back to normal and I no longer had the problem. I am not saying this will work for everyone, but it certainly did it for me.

Thanks Carolyne. Got PCs busy recording at the moment, so will try that out in the morning.

AvSion said:

right click on the windows button (bottom left corner) and choose Run.
And it is passwords2 with an s.

Thanks AvSion. Will try that in the morning.

Like all of u and I'm sure many others - this is a pain in the A... issue that MS so far has refused to fix.

The best I can come up with is a folder by folder fix - right click on Documents > Properties > and uncheck Hidden (whether its a blackened box or a check.) -> APPLY -> Confirm Attribute Changes/"Apply Changes to this folder, subfolders and files"



My experience is that all the FILES will lose their READ ONLY status but the Folders will still have that Black Box.

Good luck one and all.

This procedure fixed the problem for me in Windows 10 v1709
1. Settings
2. Update & Security
3. Windows Defender
4. Open Windows Defender Security Center
5. Virus & Threat Protection Settings
6. Scroll to “Controlled Folder Access” and turn off

Got access to all my files again.