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Question

Problem, many files flagged read only

Jul 21, 2012 7:14AM PDT

On XP Pro 32, I am not able to install a new printer because MANY files and folders on my system are flagged read only. I get a message during install "access denied". My attempts to reset the flags in properties have not worked. I do not know when this problem started since many things still work normally (e.g. email is being stored in the deleted file) I did a system restore from a week ago and it did not correct the problem.
Anyone had this problem? How do I fix it?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
There could be many reasons
Jul 21, 2012 8:46AM PDT

Many system files and folders and other folders and contents are Read Only in Windows. When we install printers here are a couple of steps we ensure.

1] Use an Admin capable Windows account, not a Limited user account.

2] If there is software and/or drivers to install for this printer, do not connect the printer to the computer first. Install the software and drivers, reboot the computer just to make sure the system settings and the registry are updated, then connect the printer, (if this is not a USB printer only connect when the computer is turned off).

Mark

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access denied, still a problem
Jul 21, 2012 9:28AM PDT

I was using an account with admin privlidges. Tried several sequences of loading and connecting. I was on the phone with an HP help person for more than two hours and we did not solve the problem. The error message 'access denied" seems to be because the target folder is read only. But I have not been able to clear the flags.

Hugh

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That target folder.
Jul 21, 2012 9:38AM PDT

I missed its name.

But beyond that we could delete it (safe mode if need be to get the files of that folder) then create a new folder.

There are few that feel that this must be fixed rather than copy out files, delete and recreate the folder.
Bob

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folder name
Jul 21, 2012 10:24AM PDT

The message with folder name goes by so fast that I cannot read it. I am only guessing that it is the read only problem. There could be some other reason access is denied. If I could prevent the msg window from going away so fast I could see exactly what target area was the problem. Is there a way of capturing the message or slowing down the clearing?
All suggestions are appreciated. Hugh

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Sadly.
Jul 22, 2012 1:59AM PDT

Since you would have to copy the files, folder by folder until you find which are trouble.

It's a shame there is not a longer story here. Such as you are copying from CD or other media that does result in RO files. That's no bug!
Bob

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more info
Jul 22, 2012 11:09AM PDT

I am on XP Pro 32, I have been trying to install from a file I downloaded from the HP site. That install attempt gives the 'access denied' message. The target is somewhere in Sysem32 folder but I could not get the complete location. The file I downloaded is the particular file specified for my printer.
Next I tried to unpack the files manually. A temp folder contains several .dl_ and .ex_ files and an .inf file.
When I tried to extract the files, I get a message that cannot extract 'file name' to archive. I do not know how archive got into the process. I hope these details help. Hugh

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So it's some driver/install bug?
Jul 23, 2012 2:39AM PDT

It's a shame we have this many posts and only now see that this is some driver/install issue.

The most common reason is a non-ADMIN account. There are other reasons such as antivirus suites protecting this or that. Spybot's Teatimer can cause it too but why would I suspect anything specific given the details so far?

It's a long discussion and frankly it's time to start fresh with a simpler problem statement. You lead off with a copy issue and it turns out that it was not a copy issue but a driver/installer issue.
Bob

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Answer
Link, comment.
Jul 23, 2012 3:02AM PDT