Cannot retain read-only property

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Windows 98SE. I have ONE folder which will not retain its read-only property through a re-boot.
I’ve written a batch file to set it on start-up, only to find that Explorer re-sets it when opened. I can then set if from within Explorer, then it stays set for the session.
Any clues what may be going on here – other folders I want set to be read-only happily retain this property and I can’t work out why this one is different.

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Is this a main folder or a sub folder?

If a sub, it may be being changed because a upper level folder is checked to apply to sub folders and is NOT read only..

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Hi Dave:
This is a new one on me. I have Win 98 SE & can’t find a setting to have parent folders apply to child folders.

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It has been a long time since I worked on a 98 machine.

This option pops up on the XP machines when one selects apply, just thought that it may be the issue.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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It has been a long time since I worked on a 98 machine.

This option pops up on the XP machines when one selects apply, just thought that it may be the issue.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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THe one I cannot change (permanently) is on the root of C: and the ones I can change are sub-folders to the one I can’t change. Does this make a difference (and if so how can I get round it) ?

Thanks for the help

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Hi Martin:
I’m not sure why it’s not retaining it’s read-only attribute. Is it a system folder? What folder is it?

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It is just a folder in the root of C: where I keep my own files – documents, music, spreadsheets etc. I want the read-only property set so I can change its icon.

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Can you create a new (empty) folder on your C: drive and change the icon to what you want? If so, you could try renaming the original folder, rename the new folder to the name of the old folder, and then move the contents to the new folder. There may be something within the original folder that is stopping Windows from making it read-only.

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Thank you ! We are getting closer.

I have, as you suggested, created a new folder, put all the files into it and renamed it like the old one. The read-only property is now retained.
That leaves me with the old folder, now renamed. When I try and delete the old folder I get a dialog which says ” is your documents folder. It cannot be deleted. If you wish to delete this folder, first choose another folder to be your documents folder.”

Explorer help says “right click on My Documents and change its target”. But when I do that there is no “target” option. This isn’t a big deal as I have buried the empty folder somewhere it doesn’t show but I am curious how to tie up this loose end.

I think it was this designation as my “documents folder” which was preventing the folder staying read-only.

Thanks though for setting me down the right path albeit not quite 100% finished !

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Probably the easiest way of addressing this is to install and run TweakUI (for Windows 98) and use the Special Folders Location on the My Computer tab to nominate a folder of your choice. Its location is significant, because this is where many applications will Open/ Save to, by default.

Alan

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Done with TweakUI – my thanks to all.

Final question in this thread then – does anyone know how to make a shortcut AT THE DRIVES LEVEL in Explorer to a folder (in C: as it happens). I used to have one, deleted it and foolishly cannot remember how I created it ! I don’t mean a desktop shortcut (I can do that) or a shortcut to a file (I can do that too !).

The point is that it is visible when the left pane view is compressed.

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I’m not quite sure of what you mean here. All I can envisage is a shortcut under “My Computer” to the desired folder. This will be visible even when all drive contents are “compressed” down to just drive letters. Is this what you’re after?

Alan

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Yes – exactly so. How do I put a shortcut at this particular location ?

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I appear to have jumped the gun on this. I thought it was straightforward (was probably thinking of the Desktop). I can’t see any obvious way of doing so, but this registry hack will allow the creation of a new “special” folder. A shortcut may not be possible though.

Alan

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I appear to have jumped the gun on this. I thought it was straightforward (was probably thinking of the Desktop). I can’t see any obvious way of doing so, but this registry hack will allow the creation of a new “special” folder. A shortcut may not be possible though.

Alan

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Can you not map the folder to appear as a drive? I’m not too sure if you can do this with W98 – you may need to use the SUBST command.

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I’ve never been able to get this (network drive method) to work on a single computer running 98.
SUBST works from autoexec.bat though (or a DOS box).

Alan

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Have fixed using SUBST as suggested, thanks.

Still wishing I could remember how I did this originally – ah well !

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Have fixed using SUBST as suggested, thanks.

Still wishing I could remember how I did this originally – ah well !

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I’ve never been able to get this (network drive method) to work on a single computer running 98.
SUBST works from autoexec.bat though (or a DOS box).

Alan

Reply | Quote

Can you not map the folder to appear as a drive? I’m not too sure if you can do this with W98 – you may need to use the SUBST command.

Reply | Quote

Yes – exactly so. How do I put a shortcut at this particular location ?

Reply | Quote

I’m not quite sure of what you mean here. All I can envisage is a shortcut under “My Computer” to the desired folder. This will be visible even when all drive contents are “compressed” down to just drive letters. Is this what you’re after?

Alan

Reply | Quote

Done with TweakUI – my thanks to all.

Final question in this thread then – does anyone know how to make a shortcut AT THE DRIVES LEVEL in Explorer to a folder (in C: as it happens). I used to have one, deleted it and foolishly cannot remember how I created it ! I don’t mean a desktop shortcut (I can do that) or a shortcut to a file (I can do that too !).

The point is that it is visible when the left pane view is compressed.

Reply | Quote

Probably the easiest way of addressing this is to install and run TweakUI (for Windows 98) and use the Special Folders Location on the My Computer tab to nominate a folder of your choice. Its location is significant, because this is where many applications will Open/ Save to, by default.

Alan

Reply | Quote

Thank you ! We are getting closer.

I have, as you suggested, created a new folder, put all the files into it and renamed it like the old one. The read-only property is now retained.
That leaves me with the old folder, now renamed. When I try and delete the old folder I get a dialog which says ” is your documents folder. It cannot be deleted. If you wish to delete this folder, first choose another folder to be your documents folder.”

Explorer help says “right click on My Documents and change its target”. But when I do that there is no “target” option. This isn’t a big deal as I have buried the empty folder somewhere it doesn’t show but I am curious how to tie up this loose end.

I think it was this designation as my “documents folder” which was preventing the folder staying read-only.

Thanks though for setting me down the right path albeit not quite 100% finished !

Reply | Quote

Can you create a new (empty) folder on your C: drive and change the icon to what you want? If so, you could try renaming the original folder, rename the new folder to the name of the old folder, and then move the contents to the new folder. There may be something within the original folder that is stopping Windows from making it read-only.

Reply | Quote

Hi Martin:
I’m not sure why it’s not retaining it’s read-only attribute. Is it a system folder? What folder is it?

Reply | Quote

THe one I cannot change (permanently) is on the root of C: and the ones I can change are sub-folders to the one I can’t change. Does this make a difference (and if so how can I get round it) ?

Thanks for the help

Reply | Quote

Hi Dave:
This is a new one on me. I have Win 98 SE & can’t find a setting to have parent folders apply to child folders.

Reply | Quote

Is this a main folder or a sub folder?

If a sub, it may be being changed because a upper level folder is checked to apply to sub folders and is NOT read only..

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

Reply | Quote