All my folders have become read-only...advice needed

[Memnoch]

I'm getting really sick of Windows.

I don't know when or how this happened, but I noticed yesterday that I wasn't able to download from the web. On checking my My Downloads folder I noticed that the attribute had changed to "Read Only". I changed this back but decided to check my other folders - and EVERY SINGLE folder I have has had the attribute changed to read-only. I'm guessing this was a virus of some kind, but I haven't picked anything up with Norton AntiVirus.

I've changed my main folders back to non-read-only, but am now trying to work out the best way to change them back to before. I tried to Sys Restore to last week, but it wasn't able to do so (and I don't have any more restore points aside from that one).

I suppose the quickest way would be to go to all my root folders and change them back to non-read-only (which would do the same to all the subfolders) but I'm worried that I might inadvertently change the attributes of read-only system folders as well.

Any advice??

[Bozos of Bones]

When in doubt, Restore System.
When in even more doubt and distress, Reinstall.
I've no idea how this happened.

[PurpleXVI]

Get the hell away from Norton Antivirus, upgrade to Avast! or AntiVir Guard(Both free.) far more effective pieces of software.

That's all I can suggest.

I'd just go for the Non-Read-Only on everything, personally. Worst comes to worst it'll just be an OS reinstall, make sure to back stuff up.

[Felix The Assassin]

Why not M$~CP~Folder-Options~Click Defaults~View~Click Defaults~Exit.
Then back again and custom set options to your preference.

If you are protected, which you are by one of the best, no worry on the system folders. Unless of course you do things that should not be discussed here.

What anti-spy ware do you use. This is more than likely your culprit!

Not sure why anybody would suggest that you not use one of the most irreproachable programs in the anti-v market, then suggest that you use a freeware program. [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img]

[PurpleXVI]

I don't trust programs that leave remnants on my computer to prevent it's competitors from being installed after I uninstall it.

Not to mention that AVG caught several things on my computer that Norton never spotted.

[Bozos of Bones]

Felix, Felix... the best things in life are free.
Compared to AVG, Norton sucks big time. Avast! and AVG are by far the best(maybe Anti-Vir too, haven't tried that one in a long time) on the free market, and there's absolutely no need to pay for anthing, unless you are paying for NOD32, which is best overall. Norton just doesn't cut it, it's only selling points are hype and muscle advertisement.

[PurpleXVI]

Er, aren't Anti-Vir Guard and AVG the same thing?

[Felix The Assassin]

Originally posted by Bozos of Bones: Felix, Felix... the best things in life are free. Compared to AVG, Norton sucks big time. Avast! and AVG are by far the best(maybe Anti-Vir too, haven't tried that one in a long time) on the free market, and there's absolutely no need to pay for anthing, unless you are paying for NOD32, which is best overall. Norton just doesn't cut it, it's only selling points are hype and muscle advertisement.

Must remember that people here are not as the people elsewhere.

The spousal unit's Dell, which is the M$ system, and does the online banking, taxes, etc.. has all the M$, and other high end software on it. It always evades me that what we have, and the general public has, are two different entities.

You are obviously referring to plain wrapper Norton. I'm referring to Symantec CE 10. Two complete different species from the same DNA.

Yes of course, a plain wrapper AVG would perform for the home user better than a plain wrapper Norton. My apologies. [img]graemlins/drinkup.gif[/img]

[ 01-27-2007, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: Felix The Assassin ]

[PurpleXVI]

Like I said, even if they offered me a ten-million-dollar piece of software that NASA and the Pentagon swore by, I'd still tell them to stuff it.

Their software intentionally leaves fragments to foul up competitors' software after you uninstall it. That's just not right. Either it's intentional and they're giant dickholes or it's unintentional and they're incompetent monkeys.

[Felix The Assassin]

Originally posted by PurpleXVI: Like I said, even if they offered me a ten-million-dollar piece of software that NASA and the Pentagon swore by, I'd still tell them to stuff it. Their software intentionally leaves fragments to foul up competitors' software after you uninstall it. That's just not right. Either it's intentional and they're giant dickholes or it's unintentional and they're incompetent monkeys.

Amen Brother! Can I get a hallelujah to boot?

Speaking of a boot, can I send you a Linux OS system CD? Then you will have no iffing worries about software, corporate corruption, and minor traces left over in the registry that are easy enough to remove from the keyboard.