Questions tagged [read-only]

In computing, the term "read-only" refers to the ability to read, but not alter or delete something. This is most typically used in reference to file system permissions, but can also refer to devices, such as read only memory (ROM), or storage media which cannot be written to.

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What can I do if my USB flash drive is write-protected or read-only?

When I plug in my USB flash drive, it shows up on my computer as write-protected or read-only. I am unable to transfer data to it, nor can I modify or delete any files already stored on it. I also ...
bwDraco's user avatar
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7 votes
2 answers
7k views

Having trouble with Windows XP Read Only Settings on a folder

I am having trouble with a folder that needs to be read-write for iTunes to open. For a while it was read-write, but it seemingly inexplicably changed to read-only now. When I try to change it back ...
faceless1_14's user avatar
14 votes
9 answers
38k views

Make a USB drive read only

I have a 1.5TB USB drive with many important files that I want to give to a friend (they have Windows7) for reading only purposes. thumbscrew appears to flip a registry switch but it seems to be on ...
iKarampa's user avatar
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62 votes
1 answer
64k views

How to mount an NTFS partition read-only in Windows?

I feel like this is a really simple and fundamental function that Windows should have, but so far Google has been telling me it isn't possible. How can I mount an NTFS partition read-only in Windows?
netvope's user avatar
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14 votes
2 answers
119k views

Can't remove read only attribute from folder windows 8.1 [duplicate]

I am using windows 8.1 64 bit I am unable to remove the read only attribute on folders on my computer. I have tried multiple folders on my desktop, and in my documents folder, if I uncheck the read ...
user3308082's user avatar
13 votes
3 answers
17k views

How to make a partition on external storage read-only? And revert to normal?

Sometimes, I have to give my external storage someone else. But, I am worry about files and folders which accidentally deleted, moved, changed etc... Therefore, it is enough that data on the disk can ...
mmdemirbas's user avatar
16 votes
4 answers
220k views

Remove read-only attribute from folder after Windows reinstall

I reinstalled a fresh copy of Windows 8.1 on my laptop after formatting drive C. Then I tried to access my Photos folder on drive D and got the error Access is denied It turned my folder into a ...
shiva86's user avatar
  • 163
41 votes
18 answers
14k views

Can I encrypt data in a way that it can be read normally but can't be copied or edited? [closed]

I want to share my 500 GB hard drive with a friend but I want to encrypt it in a way that all data can be read normally but cannot be copied or edited in any way. Is that possible?
3 votes
4 answers
7k views

Re-format thumb drive

I was trying to put the Windows 8 Consumer Preview onto a thumb drive, when I was asked if I was OK with wiping it (I said yes I as it was blank). I had to sleep my computer during the wiping, and ...
wizlog's user avatar
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0 votes
3 answers
6k views

Can you make a flashdrive read-only? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Make a USB drive read only I'm trying to my flash-drive read-only so I can stick it into potentially virus infected computers and run the files enclosed. I have discovered ...
user1015230's user avatar
28 votes
4 answers
19k views

How do I prevent Excel from locking files by default?

When I double-click on a CSV file on a network share, the file is opened in Microsoft Excel (which is what I want). However, Excel assumes that I'm going to modify the file, and that everyone else is ...
Andrzej Doyle's user avatar
25 votes
5 answers
108k views

Windows 7 - Cannot remove read-only attribute

I am logged in on my admin account. When I was trying to edit a python project using PyCharm (an IDE), it told me that the folder was marked as read-only (square box). I open the folder in explorer, ...
Lanaru's user avatar
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20 votes
2 answers
4k views

Will mounting a file system read-only increase the lifespan of an SSD?

Let's assume I have some data that once created, never again has to change. I have copied this data to an SSD and then re-mounted the file system as read-only and leave it that way from now on. Will ...
dtmland's user avatar
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14 votes
1 answer
5k views

How do I make a USB partition so no one can erase it

An office has contacted me because they have branded USB drives @ $4 each which they use for giveaways but at conferences people will sometimes grab them by the fistful, and presumably not so they can ...
seizethecarp's user avatar
12 votes
4 answers
7k views

Why are write blockers needed when there is mount with read-only?

Let’s say we're using some flavor of Linux and we mount a partition using following command: sudo mount -o ro /dev/sdc1 /mnt The partition is supposed to be read-only so that the OS and user cannot ...
cutrightjm's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
39k views

How can I create a user with read-only access to all files? (ie root without writing permissions)

For backing up my server, I would like to remotely access it via SSH. To minimize all risks, it want to user a user who only has read access, but to all files, just like root. However, he shouldn't ...
Mononofu's user avatar
  • 211
6 votes
3 answers
38k views

How can I modify my hosts file? It is read-only and cannot be modified even as Adminstrator.

Does anyone know how to modify entries on the hosts file when it is marked as read-only? I have tried unchecking the Read-only tick box, but I get an Access is Denied error, and I'm running as the ...
Jaime Garcia's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
4k views

Unable to set read-only property on temp folder

I'm trying to make the \documentsettings\user\temp folder as read only to prevent files from writing files into it ( I have reasons to do so). But I've tried all the basic methods of doing so, from ...
asudhak's user avatar
  • 181
0 votes
1 answer
14k views

I can't remove the write-protection from a USB Drive [duplicate]

I know this is a duplicate question, maybe triple duplicate or more, but I really cannot find a solution for this. My USB Drive wasn't write protected before, but something happened to it and now I ...
akris's user avatar
  • 1
6 votes
10 answers
18k views

Make some content on USB drive read only

I am having a 8GB pen drive, I need to put a PowerPoint into that and make it read only. Rest of the space should be usable for the user. Assuming the user will be using Windows only, what are my ...
Mitaksh Gupta's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
31k views

USB pen drive suddenly became read-only [duplicate]

Kingston DTSE9 16 Gb USB pen drive (genuine one) suddenly becomes read-only. It has been used in a car, permanently plugged in into the USB socket as music collection for approx 6 months. It was ...
masterofsql's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
63 views

How to physically damage a USB stick, SD card, or SDXC card to permanently make it read only? [duplicate]

Over the years, I have had several cases where either an SD card, a USB stick or any other removable storage medium has had a physical defect, and after some use, or a certain amount of formatting, it ...
DanRan's user avatar
  • 140
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

Mount Windows partition with read-write permission if possible

I'm looking for equivalent of -errors={continue|remount-ro|panic} option which is available for i.a. mount.nfs4 but not for the mount.ntfs. I need it to mount Windows 10 partition (via /etc/fstab) ...
patryk.beza's user avatar
  • 1,551
2 votes
0 answers
696 views

Mark entire SATA disk as read-only on the disk itself

Is there a way to mark an entire SATA disk (a Samsung SSD in my case) as read-only on the drive itself, such that it will be write-protected no matter which computer I will put it in? I know there is ...
code_onkel's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
6k views

Sandisk USB drive is read only [duplicate]

For some reason, I have recently been having problems where my SanDisk 32GB Cruzer USB Flash Drive will mount as read-only. It was occasional at first, but now it is full blown and will not allow any ...
user341129's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
31k views

External hard drive won't format due to "read-only" files

I have an external hard drive that has all of my media and files on it. It normally boots right up, but for some reason it's been having trouble. I normally use it on 2 computers, one with windows ...
Christin's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

Cannot do anything on SSD. It keeps coming back to some kind of "Restore point"

Yesterday (Monday) I returned to work and strangely my PC was inside the BIOS (I left it on on Friday when leaving). I continued using it normally without giving it more notice, but it turns out that ...
SbManolo's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
4k views

Windows 7 boot from read only disk

Is there a way to make Windows 7 boot from a read-only disk? I want to have a system, that no Windows Update, no other Software will change. After a reboot everything should be recovered. If there ...
Friedrich's user avatar
  • 113
0 votes
0 answers
759 views

Windows 10 not able to remove read only atttribute of the folders

I have tried all the solutions listed under the [windows-10] tag on superuser. The folder that I am trying to change attribute is "E:/myFolder". This folder is created by me. I am not able ...
User7723337's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
3k views

Entire drive (SATA SSD) is write protected, how to remove the protection?

In my Windows-10 PC (Windows 10 Home, AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB RAM, GTX1070) I have multiple drives installed, of which one is a 120GB Kingston (SV300S37A120G). The disk is not used for the OS, but ...
nucleaR's user avatar
  • 118
0 votes
1 answer
333 views

Can't remove read only attribute

I have windows 7 and I've installed Oracle and my directory C:\app\jankiewj\product is read only. When I try to remove read only checkbox it ask me for admin permission. I've try to run explorer as ...
jcubic's user avatar
  • 2,943
0 votes
2 answers
3k views

My system became suddenly read-only

System Linux Mint 17 x64. My local FS suddenly became read-only, I had to restart. Why could this happen? Could I fix it without restart? syslog file
jack's user avatar
  • 151
0 votes
1 answer
4k views

Folder always gets read-only. even when I change it [duplicate]

It's the first folder on my hard drive, every other folder works, just this folder gets always read-only. When I untick the option it commits the changes, but is read-only afterwards again?
Theo Tzaferis's user avatar