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[Terbs]

Hi fellas,
On the computer upstairs which has all the community centre files on it, has suddenly gone to 'read only'
You can access Excel files and work on them, but you can't save the changes. This has only just happened, as I did the VAT for the last quarter at the end of April. This entails saving the relevant files to flash drive ( or using home network) then opening the files on this computer, checking, then filing VAT online.
Swmbo has been inputting last months files, and can't save....they are all headed 'Read Only'.
I have tried going to the folder properties, which say Read only, tried unchecking, but still no joy.
Any help appreciated...please, please, please

[Kevin Wood]

If you're editing files on a flash drive and it's an SD/MMC card, check that the little write protect switch on the side hasn't been set to protect it.

[deviator]

There are two sets of permissions which come into effect on this.

1. Share permissions.
You enable a folder to shared to the network. There are permissions to who can access this share.

2. File permissions.
These are permissions placed on files and folders.

Both of the them have to right to work proper. One word of warning, I've seen this sort of activity caused by viruses in the past. Please make sure you have good backups.

On top of these permissions, you also have what are called 'File Attributes'. There are 4 markers that can be set to each file/folder, one of which is 'Read Only'. (I bet I've just confused you further!)

[Diamond Black Geezer]

If you look at the file in My Documentsw or whereever it's saved, and right click on it - at the bottomt here will be a check box 'Attributes: [ ] Read only   [ ] Hidden' - and make sure that it isn't ticked.

Sorry that may be too simple, but worth a check?

Also, as per above, please check you're virus-free. Eset nod32 has a free trial, and you can easily find working product keys and passwords via a quick googling. (Not to suggest such an illegal course of action, of course) AVG free is also very good.

[Terbs]

The files on the flash drive when opened do not say read only when opened direct from that drive. Its when the files are saved to another folder that the problems start.
Do all folders in Windows have 'Read only' as their properties. Because all my folders on this computer do.
What I have just done on the other computer is this......
I copied the Excel files concerned, from their folder in Program files, and saved them to the folder on the left  called 'Downloads'  (Windows 7 OS). During their copying across, a message box appeared, saying 'converting files'. The icons are now slightly different. I can now open these files from that location, and they do not say Read only. I am loathe to copy these files onto the flash drive in case of contamination.
I have now copied the backup files direct from the flash drive to this Downloads folder, and the icons are standard Excel icons, and they open as they should. No Read only in the title.   BTW, I am using Office 2003 with 2007 upgrades. Could not get on with the 2013 version, so went back to this version, which normally is superb for me.

[Terbs]

Thanks DBG....I have my protection up to date, mate

[Terbs]

Deviator....no mate...I follow you
I have been into permissions, and looked at Admin/owner/etc,  permissions, and they basically have all permissions checked.
I'll go up and run a virus scan and a windows wash, see if that helps.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

No worries  . Without adding the gremlin of paranoia, no antivirus is 100% perfect - that's why any computer repair place will have maybe half a dozen or more antiviruses for checking PCs. Also just because your antivirus is up to date doesn't guarantee that there's no viruses on the machine, so a full scan is always worth doing in any situation where there's a gremlin in the system.

I'm not the biggest PC expert, not at all; but scanning for viruses whenever there's an issue is the computer equivalent of using axle stands and a jack when you're popping under the car for only 2 mins- 99% a waste of time, but you regret it the one time you're let down.

Will pop the question to a guy at work who knows everything.. see what he can come up with

[deviator]

Do all folders in Windows have 'Read only' as their properties. Because all my folders on this computer do.

Ahh this makes more sense. Windows protects it's self from the user! The Program Files and the Windows folder do not (by default) have write access to the user. It's quite annoying at times because if I change a system file (In the Windows) folder because I know it cures a fault, Windows quietly in the background thinks I am a virus and puts the original file back.

[TheBoy]

Terbs, are you getting a yellow bar near the top saying editing is disabled? Often there will also be a "Enable Editting" on the bar

Other things, as well as Excel's own internal Read Only markers are NTFS permissions (who can read and write what), share permissions (if using shares over a network), and file attributes - in particular a Read Only and an Unsafe (downloaded from internet).

NTFS permission will normally inherit from parent, but can be modified on each file, file attributes are normally per file.


If its a laptop, drop it round, failing that, drop me a PM, and I'll remote coming in and have a look for you

[Terbs]

Thanks, J, I'll let you know how I get on

[TheBoy]

Make sure you have good, proven working copies before you touch anything!!

[Terbs]

Jamie...I have the files on the flash drive saved. The 'Read only' files are in a folder in Program Files.
The non read only files are in the 'Downloads' folder that is in 'Users/Tony....
So if it goes T*ts up, I have got the files backed up on two computers.
So....if you want a go at remote, be my guest

For communication purposes, what do you propose. I use TeamSpeak on here normally, but could set up Skype, or just use the phone.

PS....no yellow bar, etc

[TheBoy]

Going to continue via PM