Solved Permissions

Don Kee · Jul 13, 2026

Is there a tutorial showing how to get rid of "read only"?

Try3 · Jul 13, 2026

Please post a screenshot showing this "read only".
Then suitable advice can be given.

If, for example, it's this in the properties of a folder:-

Then it is virtually meaningless and can safely be ignored.
[Note that the one thing it does not mean is read-only.]
See also, but only if you really really want to, folder read-only indicator [KeithM] - TenForums

Denis

Don Kee · Jul 13, 2026

I have tried giving myself (user/bob) and administrator full control. I use apply on the popups and it seems to take. But when I kill the properties window and call it back up it is still read only. The file in OneNote show up as read only.

OAT · Jul 13, 2026

Read only is a file/folder attribute and has nothing to do with file permissions and user rights.
If you want to remove the Read attribute from a file, you would type from the command line:

Code:

attrib -r <filename>

Of course this is not very useful now within the GUI.
Type in Attrib <enter> for more options.

Don Kee · Jul 13, 2026

OK, Let me restate the problem. Office 2024, OneNote, all of the notes I have entered have become read only.

OAT · Jul 13, 2026

Don Kee said:
OK, Let me restate the problem. Office 2024, OneNote, all of the notes I have entered have become read only.

Double check the files with the Read attributes:
Right click on Type, size, that will bring up the option for more.

You can always use a wildcard to remove the Read only globally from the command line assuming you are in the right directory and all the directories below that (/s) ( where those Read only files reside)

Code:

attrib -r  *.* /s

If some files have the system attribute, those will not be reset.

HTA · Jul 13, 2026

I'm not sure if this will help you, but it unlocks any file I've tried.

UnLock IT Free - Unlock a File or Folder Locked by the System

EMCO UnLock IT is a Windows file unlocker utility that allows you to unlock a locked file or folder and rename, move or delete locked resources.

emcosoftware.com

Try3 · Jul 13, 2026

Don Kee said:
all of the notes I have entered have become read only

I think you have clicked twice on the Attributes tri-state checkbox I first drew your attention to. This will cause the files to become read-only.
I now think you need to study that link I first gave you so you understand that tri-state checkbox. It is easier to just always leave that tri-state checkbox alone - then you don't need to understand it.

But it is difficult to advise you without knowing exactly what you have done.
You could try clicking on that folder's tri-state checkbox once more to clear the R attributes on its files & make that tri-state checkbox once again show the nondescript not set state I first illustrated [i.e. not like the state you showed on your post #3.

AND
- Don't mix up discussing folder / file properties with Permissions. They are different things.
- Don't try HTA's suggestion. That is something different as well.

All the best,
Denis

antspants · Jul 13, 2026

Did you copy them over from an External drive or USB?

Open the folder with the documents.
Select all
Properties
Uncheck read only.

If it's anything more than that then my guess is there's another issue?

Try3 · Jul 13, 2026

antspants said:
Uncheck read only

I'm sorry but that checkbox is tri-state.

Denis

Don Kee · Jul 13, 2026

Some good replies. Give the old man some time to try them out.

antspants · Jul 13, 2026

You can also add this to the context menu

Add Read-only Context Menu to Files and Folders in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add a Read-only context menu to files and folders for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11. You can apply or clear the read-only attribute for files and folders in Windows 10/11. When setting a folder as read-only, read-only is actually only applied to all...

www.elevenforum.com

Scroll down to "Remove" on the page

Add that to the context menu
Select all files
Right click / "Clear read only for selected files"

hdmi · Jul 13, 2026

Firstly, read this:

Is there a purpose for the FILE_ATTRIBUTE_READONLY on folders?

As per the Microsoft documentation, the SetFileAttributes function you can set the FILE_ATTRIBUTE_READONLY attribute on folders but the attribute it is not honored on folders. In other words a folder

stackoverflow.com

Secondly, also note that on a folder the checkbox lets you choose what will happen to the read-only attribute of files inside that folder when you click on Apply or OK. The default choice is to just leave the attributes alone. Some people think that the default choice is "meaningless" but personally, I, am in the club of those who think that leaving the attributes alone can sometimes be an extremely meaningful choice indeed!

Don Kee · Jul 15, 2026

A LOT OF GOOD SUGGESTIONS!! I tried and for some reason they didn't work on the OneNote app. I resorted to the old copy and delete.
I made a new notebook and copied my notes into it and closed the old notebook. Not very techy but it works. I now can edit my existing notes. Thanks to you for the help.

Solved Permissions

Member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Member

Attachments

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Venomous Member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Venomous Member

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Well-known member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Like a rolling drone.

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Jack of all trades – master of none

My Computers My Computers

At a glance

At a glance

Member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Similar threads

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computers

My Computer

My Computers

My Computer

My Computer

My Computers

My Computer

My Computer

My Computers

My Computers

My Computer