Knowledge Base

Cannot Change System File Attribute in Windows Explorer

Article ID: 152851

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q152851

SYMPTOMS

When you use Windows NT Explorer to view or change File or Directory properties, the option for the system attribute is always grayed out.

To change the attributes of a file or directory, select the file in Windows NT Explorer and right-click the mouse. This brings up the Properties dialog. Under the General tab, there are check boxes for the file attributes. The checkbox for the system attribute is always grayed out.

RESOLUTION

To change the system attribute of a file or directory, use File Manager or the Attrib command line program. In File Manager, click the file name, choose File, Properties, then check or uncheck the System box.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0.

Additional query words: greyed gray grey

Keywords: kbbug kbnetwork KB152851