I installed SP3 on 3 machines today (yes, I read up on the recommendations
in this forum and on Microsoft's site for weeks before doing so), and
afterwards they all exhibited the same quirk. All folders had their "read
only" property set and could not be turned off, even though it would appear
to go through the process normally. However, the setting didn't affect the
ability to add, rename or delete folders. Anyone else see this behavior?

More curious, Microsoft tech support recommended that "all Service Pack
updates be done in Safe Mode", which is news to me although I've been
installing OSs and updates since long before Windows existed. Any
explanations?

Neil

Neil Gould wrote:
> I installed SP3 on 3 machines today (yes, I read up on the
> recommendations in this forum and on Microsoft's site for weeks
> before doing so), and afterwards they all exhibited the same quirk.
> All folders had their "read only" property set and could not be
> turned off, even though it would appear to go through the process
> normally. However, the setting didn't affect the ability to add,
> rename or delete folders. Anyone else see this behavior?
>
> More curious, Microsoft tech support recommended that "all Service
> Pack updates be done in Safe Mode", which is news to me although
> I've been installing OSs and updates since long before Windows
> existed. Any explanations?

It seems you just *noticed* this - not that SP3 did it. ;-)

You cannot view or change the Read-only or the System attributes of folders
in Windows Server 2003, in Windows XP, or in Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326549

All folder are read only in XP Home
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1065875615

As for the suggestion about service packs being installed in safe mode -
that would be that single "microsoft tech's" opinion. That's it. It is not
the suggested method for installing service packs officially.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Hi Stanley,

Thanks for your reply.

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Neil Gould wrote:
>> I installed SP3 on 3 machines today (yes, I read up on the
>> recommendations in this forum and on Microsoft's site for weeks
>> before doing so), and afterwards they all exhibited the same quirk.
>> All folders had their "read only" property set and could not be
>> turned off, even though it would appear to go through the process
>> normally. However, the setting didn't affect the ability to add,
>> rename or delete folders. Anyone else see this behavior?
>>
>> More curious, Microsoft tech support recommended that "all Service
>> Pack updates be done in Safe Mode", which is news to me although
>> I've been installing OSs and updates since long before Windows
>> existed. Any explanations?
>
> It seems you just *noticed* this - not that SP3 did it. ;-)
>
> You cannot view or change the Read-only or the System attributes of
> folders in Windows Server 2003, in Windows XP, or in Windows Vista
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326549
>
> All folder are read only in XP Home
> http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1065875615
>
> As for the suggestion about service packs being installed in safe
> mode - that would be that single "microsoft tech's" opinion. That's
> it. It is not the suggested method for installing service packs
> officially.
>
We were taking the systems from SP1 to SP3, so we didn't notice this
behavior before. I'll look at our Vista installation to see if this is
behavior is common to that machine as well. I'm glad that someone confirmed
our suspicions that it is a quirk of the OS rather than something specific
to our installation.

I doubt that I'll start installing any major upgrades in a mode that can't
detect drivers and other system hardware. I thought it a rather bizarre
suggestion to come directly from Microsoft.

Thanks again,
--
Neil