Read-only Attribute for a Windows folder

[Bontrager]

I’m running a Visual Studio app that fails because the folder Temporary ASP.NET Files is Read-only. In Windows Explorer, there is a checkmark next to Read-only in the folder properties. However, it does not remain unchecked if I uncheck it, even though I’m an Administrator.

If I display the Attributes column in Windows Explorer the only attribute indicated for this folder is D (for Directory).

I also tried to display the folder attributes in a Command Prompt as an Administrator using the attrib command as follows:

c:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727>attrib /d /s "Temporary ASP.NET Files"


This returns the following without indicating any attributes:

c:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727>

The Read-only attribute reportedly can be removed through a command prompt by using the –R parameter. I would rather not run this command though without first confirming that the Read-only attribute is enabled.

My question is this – why would this folder have Read-only checked in the folder properties, but does not display this attribute in the Attributes column of Windows Explorer nor in a command prompt as described here?

Thanks.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Bontrager,
Might be me but thats an OLD version of .Net, current version 4.6.X.
try updating to the current version, things might change,

Roy

 

[Bontrager]

Thanks, but the app involved was developed under and still requires Visual Studio 2008 which can run no version later than .NET 3.5.

That's a moot point though - the question is why would any folder's properties have Read-only checked, but not show the Read-only attribute when the Attribute column is displayed in Windows Explorer nor when the Attrib command lists the attributes for that folder in a Command Prompt.

If that question could be answered, it might become apparent as to how I can uncheck Read-only in the folder's properties as this apparently is causing the app to fail.

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Bontrager, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Just to verify. If the Read-only box is this

, then it's not actually checked.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/63741-read-only-file-folder-attribute.html

 

[Bontrager]

Thanks. The checkbox actually has a checkmark.

 

[Brink]

It won't hurt anything to run the command to remove the Read-only attribute to see if that may help.

 

[Bontrager]

I came upon the a Microsoft tech note that describes exactly the scenario I encountered (cannot uncheck the Read-only checkbox of a folder's properties). See the section under Steps to work around this problem at the following link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/326549

I ran the following command as an Administrator with the syntax decribed in the tech note:

c:\>attrib-r +s "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NETFiles"

However, after running this command, a checkmark still appears next to Read-only in the the properties of the folder "Temporary ASP.NET Files".

If anyone has any ideas on this, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[Brink]

The command you posted above has an error in it. There should be a space after attrib like below.

attrib -r +s "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NETFiles"

Does using the command below show the attrib to still be Read-only for the folder?

attrib "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NETFiles"

 

[Bontrager]

Thanks for picking up the missing blank space.

Please note that the command you suggested doesn't recognize the directory.

c:\>attrib "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NETFil
es"
File not found - C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.N
ETFiles

Adding the /d switch (to recognize the directory) indicates the /s switch is also required.
c:\>attrib /d "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NET
Files"
The /D switch is only valid with the /S switch.

'File not found' after adding /s switch.
c:\>attrib /d /s "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.
NETFiles"
File not found - C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.N
ETFiles

Here's the command to remove the Read-only attribute (with the missing blank space added) per the MS tech note. Still get 'File not found.'
c:\>attrib -r +s "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.
NETFiles"
File not found - C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.N
ETFiles

The result of the above command is that the Read-only checkmark is not removed from the Temporary ASP.NETFiles folder. The following command was run to reverse the above command (per the MS tech note.)

c:\>attrib -r -s "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.
NETFiles"
File not found - C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.N
ETFiles
c:\>

The 'File not found' message might refer to the fact that the Temporary ASP.NETFiles folder does not contain any files. Regardless, I would expect that the Read-only checkmark would be removed from the folder by running the command as described in the MS tech note.

Any other ideas, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[Brink]

That error indicates that it can't find the folder. Are you sure you have the correct path?

 

[Bontrager]

Yes, the path is correct.

c:\>cd "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NET Files"

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NET Files>

The double quotes are required because of the spaces in the folder name.

 

[Brink]

As a test, make sure that the command prompt is dragged wide enough to fit the command in one line before pasting it in case the command is carrying over to the next line and not being properly executed.

Please go ahead and post a screenshot showing the command prompt after using the attrib command to see if anything may stand out.

 

[Layback Bear]

Thanks Brink.

As a test, make sure that the command prompt is dragged wide enough to fit the command in one line before pasting it in case the command is carrying over to the next line and not being properly executed.

I didn't know that might cause a problem. I will store that in one of my brain cells.

Back to watching.

 

[Alejandro85]

The read only attribute is in almost every case totally irrelevant and always ignored.
Look again at the error message, I'm pretty sure it clearly refers about permissions and not to "read only". The usual cause of this error is that the web server cannot write to that temporary location, so you must give its user account write permissions there. This often happens when deploying in a real web server, as opposed in development with the Visual Studio toy dev server.

 

[Bontrager]

In response to Brink's suggestion, the command was run again in an expanded command prompt to prevent wrapping of the command. The result was the same though.

C:\>attrib -r +s "C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NETFiles"
File not found - C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NETFiles

In response to Alejandro85's comment about the permissions, the scenario I've encountered seems to be identical to that described in the MS Tech Note (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/326549). Their recommendation is to run the command shown above as an Administrator.

I'll have to find a work-around for the time being and hopefully can address this at a later date. If I come upon a solution, I'll check back and will post the solution on this forum.

Brink - thanks for all of your help on this.

 

[Brink]

If you like, you might see if taking ownership of the folder may help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html