Unlock "Read-Only" Files utility

[Mike Jackson]

Hi all,
It seems many images copied from a CD to a hard drive will transport over as "read-only". I am looking for a freeware or shareware utility that will change the read-only attribute for a complete folder at one time, instead of having to manually go in and change them one at a time.

I looked around on Google, but didn't see exactly what I need.

Any suggestions?

Mike Jackson

[Jeff Lang]

Mike,
What I usually do is go into a folder & select all files. Then I right clik any if the files & uncheck the read only box in windows 98 at work and windows xp at home. it has always worked.
Let me know if I am missing something.
Jeff

[Mike Jackson]

Yep, that worked on my Win2000 machine. I didn't know it would work on multiple files with one click. Thanks!
Mike Jackson

[BruceJackson]

Hi Mike
You can use the "attrib" command.

Just open up a command prompt (start/run/cmd) and type in
"attrib -r c:/folder/*.* /s"

Might seem more trouble than using a windows interface, but you have more control over which files are changed (by using wildcards) and also setting files in subdirectories (the /s attribute)

The help files have full description of options, or type "attrib/?".

[alf toy]

Remove the Read-Only Attribute While Copying Files
You can use the xcopy command to remove the read-only attribute while you are copying files from a CD-ROM. Xcopy.exe resets the read-only attributes unless you specify otherwise by using the /k switch (this switch copies attributes). To use this method:
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
3. Type xcopy drive letter:\*.* destination /e /h, where drive letter is the CD-ROM drive letter and destination is the path to the destination for the files, and then press ENTER. For more information about command-line switches for Xcopy.exe, type xcopy /? at a command prompt.

[Bob Gilliland]

I cut my nerd teeth on DOS and grew up using a utility called Norton Commander. Early in the Windows 3.1 days, I came across a utility titled Windows Commander authored by Christian Ghisler. This made life inside Windows just like the warm comfy shoes of DOS (did I just say that outloud ). As time and operating systems have moved on, so as Windows Commander. Thanks to a nice letter from Microsoft in 2002, the program name was changed to Total Commander.

This is the swiss army knife of utilities in my opinion. From the basic task of moving files from folder to folder or from VPN tunnel to a FTP area, looking “into†eps and ai files instead of opening them (amazing how much of a hero you look like just by knowing some details about a file without actually opening it), or synchronizing directories and even changing file attributes, this thing does it all. All of the desktops and laptops here have it installed. Heck, I even have a version on my PDA.

For anyone that might be interested, check it out at www.ghisler.com. Major overkill for only wanting to change attributes, but might contain a host of other features you may want to take advantage of.