[uniconformist]

How exactly do you change folder attributes in Windows XP? I've tried changing them with admin privileges and still it won't change after I click apply or OK. It's still the same when I check it again.

Files change okay, it's just the folders don't change.

[Jayman]

A folder is just a container, so the only attribute you can change is whether it is hidden or not.

What else would you want to do with a folder??

Or more specifically, which attribute are you trying to change?

[uniconformist]

read-only. i check it everytime and it is always highlighted and masked

[Jayman]

Thats because all folders are read only. Its the contents of the folder that matters.

And the contents you have control over. But the folder itself will always be read-only.

[uniconformist]

it's not like a unix userspace where you could set exact attributes to it.

[Jayman]

The key here is that you cannot change it using the properties window, this is by design.

You can still change it from the command line. You can find all the information you need at the following link.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326549

It is important to be aware of the effects of changing the system attributes of folders in windows. It has the ability to render special folders, like My Music for example, into an ordinary folder. Which can be a problem if you need it for say, iTunes or some other application.