Knowledge Base

NT Explorer clears archive attribute after permissions change

Article ID: 166526

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 Q166526

SYMPTOMS

While you change permissions on files or directories located on an NTFS partition, the file system sets the archive bit active and updates the time stamp for the file.

Explorer will erroneously clear the archive bit while exiting the properties box by selecting OK all the way out after changing permissions. If the archive bit is cleared, the file or directory will not be backed-up during incremental backups.

CAUSE

This is caused by the order that the property pages are applied. When you change something through the permissions dialog box, it changes the file immediately, turning on the archive bit at that moment to the file or directory. When you press OK on that dialog box, the first page (General) sees that it wants the file to be non-archived, so it turns off the archive bit. Then the permissions page saves, which does nothing because it has already done its work.

RESOLUTION

After you change permissions on a file or directory, do NOT click OK, but instead go back to the General tab prior to leaving the properties dialog box. When you use this procedure, the file or directory will retain an accurate setting.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

Additional query words: archive bit reset

Keywords: kbbug kbui KB166526