Folders locked in Read Only

Sorry for a question that has probably been answered. I've searched, but
suspect I'm using the wrong key words. Anyway, I am attempting to set folder
types in Windows Explorer to Music so my Zune software will find the folders.
When I go to the customize tab of the folder properties window I can select
the proper type and apply it, but once I leave properties, the types reverts
to general documents. My files are either .wma or .wmv plus album art. All
of it initially went through WMP. (I've attempted the "attrib" command in
DOS with no results.)

The "read only" attribute does not apply to folders - that's why you see the
checkmark grayed out.

Not sure why your selection of folder type isn't sticking.

One of the MS KB articles referred to the need to remove the Read Only
attribute to free up the Folder Type attribute. That's the only reason I
went after it.
Thanks, though.

Speaking of Microsoft Knowledge Base Articles...

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

Not sure what you mean here. The article you site is the one that I refer to
above. Here's a quote from the article:
"To view or to remove the Read-only or the System attributes of folders in
Windows Server 2003 or in Windows XP
1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then press ENTER.
2. To view the syntax for the Attrib command, type attrib \? at the command
prompt."

Seems like it says you can for Win XP.

In any case, my real goal is to be able to customize a folder to MUSIC so
that the frickin' Zune software will recognize it. Not actually concerned
about the check box.

My ability to read minds and know what you speak of with 'inferrences' is
limited. I figured you meant that particular article - but I would have
liked a link to it so that others would know if that is what you refer to or
not. In an news posting others may find in their search for answers *years*
from now - I bet on that fact "more information is better than less" and
like to see as much as possible provided.

As for the Zune issue - from the very article you inferred to and I linked
to - getting rid of the read-only and such attributes is the opposite of
what you would want... I quote another part:

"Warning If you remove the Read-only or System attribute from a folder, it
may appear as a ordinary folder and some customizations may be lost. For
example, Windows customizes the Fonts folder and provides a special folder
view that permits you to hide variations, such as bold and italic. It also
permits you to change the folder's view settings in ways that are specific
to fonts. If you remove the Read-only and System attributes of the Fonts
folder, these customized view settings are not available. For folders that
you have customized by using the Customize tab of the folder's Properties
dialog box, the folder icon and other other customizations may be lost when
you remove the Read-only attribute."

For help with Zune issues - I would likely go to a community forum site
like

[rj.amdphreak]

I have an extreme example of this read-only folder deal.
I am trying to run iTunes on my little sister's Dell laptop (note that this is a dell that is screwing up...don't buy from dell.)
the specs on this laptop are not important, but it's a "craptop" (I've named it on its network).
When I run iTunes it shows me a message saying that the folder "iTunes" cannot be found or created and is required for iTunes to run. It says that the default location of the folder is under "My Music". I've created a folder inside it manually, but iTunes still provides this message.
I looked at the "My Music" folder, and I found that it was set as read-only, so I unchecked it and went through the same realizations as the previous folks in this discussion.

The variation on what's already been said:
Every folder on the hard drive is set as read-only. I believe that an anti-spyware program did this to make the drive more "secure" against virus-based file modification (probably Spybot).
Using Windows Explorer I can create delete and modify folders and all other files.
I've used the terminal (command-prompt) to run a command to recursively un-read-only every file and folder on the hard drive, but it didn't work. here's the command-line:
attrib -R "C:\*.*" /R /S
I'm writing that from memory, so I hope it is right.

It took around 10 minutes to run, and it skipped most of the files because they were "hidden", but the ones that weren't hidden were also unchanged.

I used the instructions outlined on your Microsoft link.
I did everything you said, and it still does not work. It unregistered all the folders that were system folders, but the Read-only status has not changed. Furthermore, iTunes provides the same lovely message, proving you are wrong.
Don't get me wrong: I hate Apple and its products, but this kind of mistake on Microsoft's count is going to destroy MS's rep.

You always play your bongo drums
you think you got the right
you wake up little Ricky in the middle of the night.
Please put down your maracas now and just turn off the lights!

Have a look here..
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326549

[rj.amdphreak]

I ended up wiping and reinstalling XP. The file system works properly now. XP is dead.

I'm going to wipe again and turn the crappy laptop into a home file server...assuming there's any real use in it (have to consider usefulness to my family, since I'll be gone at college most of the time).

I might use it as a media PC in front of the TV--cant do HD media, but 2-channel music and DVD's will play on it.