(no subject)

[ria_oaks]

Okay, wtf? The folders on my external harddrive, which I just had transferred to a new drive because my last one died, all seem to be read only. I can't change names, change anything in the files, or even fucking delete files. I tried going to the properties of the folders and unchecking read only, but it says access is denied.

I am NOT AMUSED.

Comments

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Problem still there?

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Cool.

1) Are the Read-Only checkboxes greyed-out? Or do they automatically become checked again after you uncheck them?

2) You have administrative rights on your computer, yes?

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

So say you. ;)

1. The read-only box has a green square in it, like it's been selected. When I deselect it and hit apply, it says "an error has occured applying attributes to the file ('file name', and it goes through all the files in the folder if I keep hitting 'ignore'). Access is denied."

2. I presume so. But maybe they're not being applied to my external...?

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Green? Oh are you using the default Windows XP theme (as opposed to classic)? If so, then that's your whole problem. Switch to classic theme, you heretic.

Seriously though, I'd check what your account's rights are. If they are not administrative, switch to the administrator's account and try again. If that doesn't work, then we can rule out that it's a permissions problem.

I'll look around a bit and get back to you.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

LOL I used to have the Windows XP theme, too... but I got used to it, and the old one looks way too... old now. Like my computer at work, which is running Windows 2000. And Word 98 or something. Gah. o.o (and never mind our banking system, yikes - ancient piece of crap program).

Anyway, yeah, I'm set up as the administrator. I dunno, I'm fine on the rest of my computer, it's just my little external USB hard drive - I'm worried that the computer guy fucked it up somehow.

Thanks. ^^

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Also, folders are always read-only. Does the same thing happen when you try changing the attributes of the files themselves?

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Just checked one file and it's not marked read only. Just keeps saying that the file is either in use/read only/etc and that access is denied when I try to change the name. Even though it's NOT in use. -_- That said, though... I didn't realize that folders are only read only, so maybe I just need to restart or something. I just unplugged the drive and plugged it back in... let's see what happens...

...nope. Damn.

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this is familiar. I'm not really sure if it's the exact same problem I'm thinking of. Unplug your hard drive and restart. Plug it back in when Explorer has fully loaded and see if the problem persists. (Make it a habit of using the Safely Remove Hardware feature found in your system tray)

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'll try that.. tomorrow, though, cuz I'm downloading something right now. Safely Remove Hardware never seems to work for me - always says that the drive is in use and cannot be stopped.

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that happens to me with my USB flash drive too. It also happens when I move a lot of files about various folders. I use a little program called Unlocker to make Explorer stop accessing the drive/files. Restarting does the trick too, but it's inconvenient.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Another odd thing is, I can change the names of files in the main part of the drive, but not the files in any of the subfolders...

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Yeah.. I'm thinking that the Windows Indexing Service hasn't released access to those folders, which keeps you from altering them and the files they contain. It happens sometimes. Restart should fix it. Hopefully.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Restarted and it didn't work. Wtf.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Okay, I think it has something to do with the location of the files... I've gotten a few messages claiming that the file does not exist at that location or whatnot. Even though it's the same path as on my old harddrive..


OOOH WAIT A SEC. I just copying the file from the subfolder to the main part of the harddrive, and I can rename it there! So I'll just transfer all the files to new folders, methinks...

(btw, Unlocker didn't work - prob because this is an issue with the location of the files and Windows being stupid...)

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Then it's a different issue than what I was thinking of; if restarting didn't fix it then it's no surprise Unlocker did nothing either. At least we know it's probably not your computer's fault. >.>

If you can back the files up, then maybe you should consider reformatting it?

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm thinking of doing that.

Btw, I'm home now and will be for the rest of the evening if you want to drop by that book. Could hang out for a bit, I dunno.

[bk635.livejournal.com]

Is it still giving you problems? Not a whole lot of information on it (surprisingly most of the complaints seem to be coming from Mac and Linux users); I guess it doesn't help that the error messages are rather vague. Yeah I'd probably wipe it clean just in case the file system structure is corrupt or something. Then use the Safely Remove Hardware option in the future, along with Unlocker if it gives you that 'drive in use' error.

I'll probably drop the book into your mailbox sometime tomorrow, I think.

[ria-oaks.livejournal.com]

Nah, it's basically okay now, I just need to move all the files into new folders. ^^ May still reformat, though.

Mmkay. I'm home now and will be all evening, so whenever. You're welcome to stay for a bit - parents aren't here, they're on the island. And I have no plans for the evening. Don't really feel up to going out, though - had to leave the parade early as it is because I didn't feel well and was about to keel over. I think fate is trying to prevent me from ever actually seeing the Pride Parade. ^^;;