External Hard Drive Files Locked As Read-Only


  1. Posts : 16
    Windows 7
       #1

    External Hard Drive Files Locked As Read-Only


    Hi

    I have recently bought a new laptop running Windows 7. I have an external hard drive which I used to use on an old laptop which ran Windows XP. When I plug the USB external hard drive into my new laptop running Windows 7, I can only open files as read only.

    Why is the external hard drive locked? I only have one user account set up which is an administrator account.

    Any ideas for solving this one?

    Regards

    CeeGee
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,506
    W7 Ult. x64 | OS X
       #2

    It's likely locked because your old machine had set the permissions as read only.

    You'll need to take ownership of the drive and/or change the permissions.

    External Hard Drive Files Locked As Read-Only-hddsecurity.png
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,083
    Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit
       #3

    Here's how to add "Take Ownership" to the right-click menu: Take Ownership Shortcut
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 303
    Windows 7 Ultimate
       #4

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\StorageDevicePolicies\WriteProtect

    If this value exists AND is set to 1, the usb connected drive would present as read-only.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 16
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks for the replies.

    notsograymatter - not clear what you are suggesting here, can you expand?
    Product FRED - not clear how this sorts out the thousands of files I have on the drive?
    Casca - the registry key does not exist on my machine?

    Would really appreciate some further help.

    I still have my old laptop. Can I remove the read only status using the old laptop in some way?

    Regards

    CeeGee
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,083
    Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit
       #6

    I was adding to notsograymatter's suggestion of taking ownership of the files. Click the link I provided to go to the tutorial and hit "Download" to download a .reg file. Double-click it and hit "Yes" to add a "Take Ownership" command to the right-click menu. When you take ownership of a file, you gain all rights to it. So just select the file/folders you want to take ownership of, right click, and click "Take Ownership".

    - Fred
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1
    windows 10
       #7

    Post subject: Can't change read only on external hard drive
    I have all my data on an external hard drive and was working with it from my old XP-system without a problem.
    In Windows 8 or 10 all files are suddenly read only, and allthough I unclicked it in my administrator account and applied the
    changes, once it is done the files are still read only!

    I have 'solved' it in the follow way:

    Folder (R/C)
    Properties (L/C)
    Security (L/C)
    Edit (L/C)
    Creator Owner (L/C)
    Allow: Full control (L/C)
    Account Unknown (s...)
    User Allow: Full control (L/C)
    Apply (L/C)
    (Wait, if needed)

    Folder (R/C)
    Properties (L/C)
    OK (L/C)
    General (L/C)
    Read only (L/C)
    Apply (L/C)
    OK (L/C)
    (Wait, if needed)
    OK (L/C)
      My Computer


 

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