Unable to Unset Read-only Attribute of Documents Folder on my PC

mike ten · 24 Jul 2023

Thank you, mngerhold.
I moved the Documents folder by going to the Location tab in the Documents Properties and changing the address from C: to F:
In my case, the Documents folder doesn't disappear in the C:\Users\Michael\, but as shown in my initial post
2. C:\Users\Michael\Desktop>attrib -r "C:\Users\Michael\Documents\*" /s /d
File not found - C:\Users\Michael\Documents\*
But it's inaccessible and is also present, without a location tab. Here is its screenshot.

Unable to Unset Read-only Attribute of Documents Folder on my PC-2023-07-25_001840.png

Try3 · 24 Jul 2023

Mike,

I thought you could not access that C:\Users\Michael\Documents folder so I don't understand how you were able to post

If you do have access then I'd expect you to be able to delete it.
If you have access but cannot delete it then please say so.

Do stop playing with folder attributes. Just delete it or leave it alone.

All the best,
Denis

dalchina · 24 Jul 2023

mike ten said:

Thank you for your reply, dalchina.

I'm trying to uncheck the hidden status under View, but the Explorer window opens again and again with the Hidden items checked. Are there other ways to enable the hidden status of files/folders?

Uncheck? This is the normal state of those two options.

Unable to Unset Read-only Attribute of Documents Folder on my PC-1.jpg

Note the status of the Apply button - when the options have been set it's greyed out. It's acitve after you change one.

I.e. make the change, click Apply...

If stuck, you might try the Reset Defaults option

As for the rest, I'll leave that with the others.. the confusion caused by using the Location tab supports my view that it's better not used, for this and other reasons.

Note that the folder in its original location could potentially be used by 3rd party programs (which often create folders in Documents, Videos, Pictures etc) which may not be written so as to respect location changes.

margrave55 · 24 Jul 2023

The read-only status on a folder is quite irrelevant. It tells you nothing. Just ignore it.

If you have problems accessing the folder, look at the folder permissions.

mike ten · 24 Jul 2023

I have rebooted my PC. And I have two pieces of good news.
1. I was able to install the program (Picture Window Pro 8.0.373) that started the issue of the Documents folder. At first, I wasn't able to install it. The problem was the Documents folder which was inaccessible. The developer of the program, Jonathan M. Sachs, helped me identify the problem, and to move the Documents folder to another drive. This way the documents folder was repaired. There was confusion with the read-only folder. You have solved it.
2. In addition, I was also able to install the TorrentRover program. The same issue with the Documents folder.

The issue with Hidden items was resolved after rebooting.

The only issue that remained, do I need to move the Documents folder back to drive C:\Users\Michael\ ?
Are there safe ways to do that? Or, just leave it as it's now?

P.S. I'm going to update the TorretRover thread.

dalchina · 24 Jul 2023

The choice is yours.. there is the risk of incompatibility with 3rd party programs which don't respect the relocation.

You also need to consider the implications for
a. Possible clean installs
b. Disk failure
c. Migration to a new PC
d. Backup

mike ten · 25 Jul 2023

Dear Denis (Try3),

In post#12, you doubt the fact that the Documents folder in C:\Users\Michael\ is inaccessible. Not sure why.
When I clicked on it, I got an error "Location is not available".

Unable to Unset Read-only Attribute of Documents Folder on my PC-2023-07-25_153755.png

But I can right-click on it and select properties.

I'm not sure what will happen if I delete that Documents folder. I haven't tried deleting it yet.
I'm leaving it alone for now, until I can find a sure way to handle it.
The working Documents folder is now located at F:\Michael.

Try3 · 25 Jul 2023

Mike,

I think you should check the disk itself.
Drive Error Checking - TenForumsTutorials

Denis

mike ten · 25 Jul 2023

Thanks Denis,
I've checked all my drives, no errors.

BTW, how is your Poco X3? I have Poco F3, it restarts all the time. Make me mad. Even so, it's Android 13

Try3 · 25 Jul 2023

Mike,

Mine's fine.
It's Android 12.

I am concerned that Xiaomi do not commit to providing OS updates for specified periods. Their support seems to be for two years for their cheaper phones & up to five years for their more expensive ones.
I used to be able to check this at Smartphone Security: Why Mobile Phones Over Two Years Old Could Be A Risk - Which? but it is currently not showing up in both Firefox & Edge.

I bought it because I had twice tried to buy a new Samsung A52 phone when my old Samsung A40 went duff [and I could not repair it] but both the phone & its subsequent replacement suffered from the same significant fault [its hotspot 2.4/5GHz switch did not work, the hotspot was always 2.4GHz in both settings].

I don't use my phone for anything demanding.
I use it for phone calls & texts.
I've added apps so I can open all MSOffice files [including Outlook msg files] and URL files. I have a routine backup to [512GB Fat32] USB*** in my computer so I can, with a USB-USBC adapter] read all my files on my phone in an emergency.
But its main use is as my internet connection using its data link & its WiFi hotspot. My router is a 'WISP' router that has a firewall facing the internet source even though it's my phone's WiFi hotspot.

*** I say USB just for simplicity.
- In my computer, it's a MicroSD card in an SD card adapter that lives in that otherwise hardly-ever-used SD card slot in my computers.
- In my phone, it's a MicroSD card in a MicroSD-USBC adapter.
- I was able to format it as Fat32 despite its size. Windows is happy to work with large Fat32 drives, it merely does not have a formatting tool for them. I use MiniTool partition Wizard to format it.
- Android is happier with Fat32 drives as well. I used to play around with add-ons that allowed NTFS but they were always awkward & only a few explorer's would recognise them. But even my built-in explorer's can see fat32 drives.

All the best,
Denis