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Summary: There are lots of reasons you might not be able to open a file. In this article we look at programs that refuse to open files marked "read-only", and what to do. I saved a copy of important excel files back in 2004. When I tried to open what I was looking for, I was unsuccessful. A window popped up and said "xyz.xls file cannot be accessed. The file may be read-only (which it shows in properties) or you may be trying to access a read-only location, or the server the doc is stored on may not be responding". I know it's possible to take ownership of a hard drive in order to change read-only status, however I forgot how, plus I don't know if its possible to do it with a CD. Can you help? Besides accessing files that may have been written to CD as a backup, this is a common trap people fall into when moving files from machine to machine. There are many programs that will refuse to open files that are marked read-only. The problem is that files can appear as "read-only" for several different reasons. I'll look at those reasons, as well as the most common scenario where people run into this problem. And of course I'll outline what you can do. • Files can appear read-only for one several reasons, the most common being:
Let's look at what we can do about each of those. If a file is marked as read-only on the disk, it's fairly easy to reset that attribute. Fire up Windows Explorer, and locate the file in question. Here I've located "c:\documents and settings\leon\my documents\safeontheinternet.pdf":
Now, right click on the file you want to change, and click on Properties. You should see a dialog much like this one:
Note the Attribute setting "Read Only" - uncheck it if it's checked, and press OK. If no error appears, the setting has been removed. "When you copy a file from a read-only media such as a
CD-R, the read-only status is copied with it."
If the file is on a read-only media like a CD-R or a read-only network share, you cannot change the read-only status. In this situation, or if you just want to avoid changing the read-only status of the file as we just did, the next best solution is to make a copy of the file onto your local hard disk. So, using Windows Explorer, the command prompt, or whatever means you use to copy files, copy the file or files from the read-only media to a folder on your hard disk. Important! When you copy a file from a read-only media such as a CD-R, the read-only status is copied with it. That means you still can't write to the file until you take the steps above to reset the read-only attribute on the file on your hard disk. This causes people no end of confusion. Finally, if the file is in use, you again, can either make a copy of it, or determine who's using the file and close that program. While the question asks specifically about Excel, in fact the most common scenario where this whole read-only problem comes up is when email folders are copied to CD-R for backup or for moving to a different machine. "After copying files from CD-R you still
must reset the read-only attribute if you want to be able to
write to them.
Mail programs, particularly Outlook and Outlook Express, expect - and require - that they be able to write to the files containing email. If these files are marked read-only then the program will either fail to open them, or worse, tell you that they don't exist. And remember - copying the files to your local hard disk isn't enough. I see people frequently stymied because they've copied their files locally thinking that was enough, and they still can't open their mail. After copying files from CD-R you still must reset the read-only attribute if you want to be able to write to them. And naturally that holds true for the Excel file we started with. Copy the file to your hard disk, reset the read-only attribute, and you should be good to go. Related: Article 10688 | Posted September 6, 2006 |
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Hi Leo-- I read the article above. But all 1900 of my documents transferred off of the CD into "My Documents" in "Read-Only" status. By the why I used CD-RW discs when I did the transfer. The steps I followed are below. Is there a way I change all of my documents at one time so that I can un-do the "read only" status?
Thanks,
Val
1. I put the CD in the new machine.
2 I clicked on "Explore" from the Start Menu so I could get to "My Computer"
3. I clicked on "My Computer" which opened up the window for my "D-Drive" (my CD drive).
4. I did Control-A and selected all of the documents in the "D" folder.
5. I right-clicked inside of that folder (can't remember if the cursor was on a Document icon or on the space in between the docs).
6 After I right -clicked, I scrolled down to "Send To" and selected "My Documents"
7. When I went into My Documents, all of my documents were there. However when you open any of the documents, in parentheses at the top next to the name of the file it says "Read-Only".
I am running Windows 2000.
Posted by: Val at September 26, 2007 2:06 PMI have some files saved on a jump/flash/thumb drive (whatever you want to call it)...they worked fine until yesterday. I tried opening excel and word files and I keep getting the error "the file may be read-only, or you may be trying to access a read-only location. Or, the server the document is stored on may not be responding." How can I fix this?
Posted by: Danielle at December 17, 2007 5:30 PMI have some files saved on a jump/flash/thumb drive (whatever you want to call it)...they worked fine until yesterday. I tried opening excel and word files and I keep getting the error "the file may be read-only, or you may be trying to access a read-only location. Or, the server the document is stored on may not be responding." How can I fix this? When I open the files properties none of them have the read-only box checked.
Posted by: Danielle at December 17, 2007 5:31 PMHi,
Thanks for all this. However, what if 1) it's a rewritable disc 2) the system won't allow me to uncheck "read only?" This is an internal drive; all worked well until today; now all discs are, Stalinistically, "read only," no matter what I try?
The disc drive is broken?
Thanks for further thoughts.
Posted by: Mary D'Ambrosio at December 27, 2007 10:12 PMHi I have a excel file in the share drive , several users use it, suddenly every one is getting this error message this error message "*.xls cannot be accessed. The file may be read-only, or you may be trying to access a read-only location. Or, the server the document is stored on may not be responding, , I tried your method but when I tried to find /Handle it dont display any files, I need to know who is the culprit as this is very important file, I have restored the back up copy and tried to delete the old file, still gives me the same error,My file in on a shared drive, how do I apply the .exe on my share drive ?? i dint get this part, I am not that strong technically, but at the same time I have to fix this ASAP, Any help??
Posted by: RUG at January 15, 2008 9:04 AMwhy my vista business edition cant open a "application.exe file".once my cursor point just to the .exe file folder my system hangs.just pointing no action being done yet.i noticed that exe file in vista home edtion,the icon is different compare to my business edt.how can i solve this.the file is a game file around 500mb.counter strike source.exe.kindly email me.
Posted by: jtairol at February 4, 2008 7:06 PMHi Leo,
Posted by: Malcolm Brown at June 2, 2008 6:00 AMI have read the comments above but been unable to find the answer to my problem.
I did a wipe of my computer last week but before that I had been backing up (or thought I had) my pst file for Outlook 2003.
Now when I try to reload my backed up pst file it always asks for a password but I never gave it one. Going into the properties of the new pst file that Outlook made when it reloaded it gives the option of changing the password but I can't as I don't have the original password. How do I set it up so that I can create the first password or find out what the original was.
Thanks
Malcolm
iam not able to explore files in cd nor can i burn any data to my cd.i hav windows vista .everytime
Posted by: nano1398 at June 7, 2008 11:11 PMi insert a cd i get only options for preparing a blank disc even when there are files in cd.please
help
After I transferred the Outlook Express, every file comes up as 'DBX' and can't be opened. What can I do about this?
Posted by: Una Boyle at July 2, 2008 9:49 AMUna
Why can't open properties in "My Computer"
Posted by: Putra at November 10, 2008 6:04 PM