Question for DOS experts

[Apollo]

OK so I'm using WinXP and I need to change the default file status from read only. I know I can do it using DOS and typing in attrib -r "file path" but what do a type exactly after I've opened the DOS prompt window?
Can someone explain it like you are talking to a 5 year old step by step. I don't know anything about DOS really except how to open the DOS prompt. Thankyou.

[Sasquatch!]

Are you trying to change the read-only attribute on just one file?

[Apollo]

Yes, I want to change the attributes of the MAME file i.e. C:\MAME it contains all my MAME32 files. The reason is that every time I open Mame32 to play a game I have to respecify the directories.

[Sasquatch!]

Yes, I want to change the attributes of the MAME file i.e. C:\MAME it contains all my MAME32 files. The reason is that every time I open Mame32 to play a game I have to respecify the directories.

Dagflabbit, C:\MAME is not one file.  

I'm assuming that you mean that you want everything that in and that's underneath C:\MAME changed.  If so, go to the command prompt in Windows XP and type in
attrib -r c:\mame\*.* /s /d

[Thenasty]

why not just right click on the folder and select properties and de-select RO ?

[Apollo]

Thanks Sasquatch! I tried that and it gave me an error, path not found so I tried attrib -r c:\mame\*.* and that seemed to work but the folders are still read only. This is getting really frustrating. Any other ideas?

[Vol]

Through the command prompt:

try it without the *.* and with capital S and D

attrib -r c:\mame /S /D


For the future "/?" is your friend.  Try typing "attrib /?" in the command prompt it will give you help with switches and syntax.  This works with most command prompt commands.

Through the GUI:

Open My Computer, navigate to the c:, right-click on the Mame folder, choose properties, un-check the read-only checkbox (until it is clear), click apply, then select Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files at the Confirm Attribute Changes window, then click OK.

[tep0583]

why not just right click on the folder and select properties and de-select RO ?

Because XP is somewhat buggy about that.

I've actually had to resort to the attrib command on more than one occation in order to get the read-only to stay gone.

Why that is and why it doen't happen that way all of the time is beyond me.

[Lilwolf]

btw, you can do it with Windows Explorer in XP.

You load it up, get into the mame directory, right click on the file / files and select properties from the popup menu.  Then you can change the attributes (unselect readonly).

This is a pretty normal problem when copying files from a CD.  One of the nice reasons for zipping them and putting them on a cd instead of just copying them.

[Thenasty]

This is a pretty normal problem when copying files from a CD.  One of the nice reasons for zipping them and putting them on a cd instead of just copying them.

This does not happen in XP/Pro. At least for me it don't. I just tried copying a file off my cd and check the attribute and its not RO.

[Sylentwulf]

Just a quick technical note. Windows XP doesn't really HAVE dos. It emulates dos. So this may cause problems whiles trying to do technical things in the dos window through windows XP.