Windows 7: "Read-Only" File Attribute

Windows 7 will delete "Read-Only" files without providing any warning (unlike XP).
Windows Media Player 12 will overwrite files which have the "Read-Only" attribute set.

Does anyone know how to make Windows 7 (& WMP) obey the "Read-Only" attribute on files?

Hi lehnerus2000,

1) Read-only files can't be modified, but they can be copied, moved, renamed, or deleted. You can make a secure private folder which is inaccessible and undeletable. There are detailed instructions on Make Folder Inaccessible and Undeletable.

2)For WMP, go through the following page, theres a nice discussion about stopping WMP from overwriting jpgs.
Hydrogenaudio Forums > WMP and Folder.jpg being overwritten

Hello lehnerus2000.



We have a tutorial that's very easily understood on the subject of folder privacy, (how to hide a folder) have a look at it at the link below; be sure to keep us informed.

File and Folder - Hide or Unhide

Hi Bill
Thanks for your reply.

Hi Bare Foot Kid
Thanks for your reply also.

As you can see, I haven't figured out the "Multi-Quote" function yet.

I am aware that you can copy, move, rename and/or delete "Read-Only" files.

In XP, when you try to move and/or delete a "Read-Only" file, the dialog box specifically mentions that fact. As a result, if I want to make sure that I didn't accidentally delete/move a file (that might be important in the future), I mark it "Read-Only". The "Read-Only" files are mixed with files that I don't necessarily want to keep.
Windows 7 only gives the generic "Are you sure..." dialog box.

On my PC, WMP 12 ignores the "Read-Only" attribute on its database file, "wmpfolders.wmdb". That is to say, if you modify it and set it to "Read-Only" and then run WMP 12, the next time you check "wmpfolders.wmdb" it has changed!

In fact last year when I first tried using WMP 12 (windows 7 build 7048) it helpfully renamed 900/3600 mp3s, despite the fact that they were all set to "Read-Only".
As a result, I use Winamp to play mp3s on my PC.

The only reason I started WMP 12 was to see if a weird glitch on my PC was being caused by Winamp (the glitch still occurred). The glitch is, that a process (system) on my PC, suddenly surges to 40%-50% CPU usage, which causes the music to stutter for about 1 second.
I have tried to isolate what is happening by running "Process Monitor", but I haven't been able to find the cause yet.

I will check out the links that you both provided. Thanks.

Additional:
I am aware of the info provided by those links.
I've never had any luck using "cacls" though (I always use the "Security" tab).
I am not worried about Album Art because I don't use it anyway.
Thanks anyway.

Hello again.



Be sure to keep us informed as to how it sorts out.

It might just be something about my PC (I haven't seen anyone else mention the "Read-Only" thing or the "system" surge).

Got any tips on how I could isolate my glitch?

I discovered that my PC was running at 1 GHz instead of 1.8 GHz.
I have increased the clock frequency to 1.6 GHz ( I don't like my CPU temperature to get over 45C).
The number of glitches seems to be less.
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 1.8 GHz

No luck with the "Read-Only" file attribute though.

My friend just upgraded his computer (since I get to use his discarded parts, in "my "PC", I got an upgrade also).

My new specs:

• CPU: AMD Phenom(tm) 9750 Quad-Core Processor, 2400 MHz
• RAM: 8GB DDR2
• NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT

I haven't noticed any glitches using this setup.