Solved How to delete Attrib -N?

phil22 October 15, 2012 at 06:33:32

There is no such attribute as -N is Microsoft DOS or Windows. Please explain where it says atribb -N in your files?

ijack October 15, 2012 at 07:51:54

The "N" attribute (which reportedly only shows in Windows Explorer, not in a command prompt) indicates that no other attributes are set (it stands for "normal"). The only way to "clear" it would be for another attribute - such as indexed - to be set. Don't worry about it; it's a sort of fiction, like the "System Idle" process in Task Manager.

Thanks. If I use attrib *.*, I see the attrib -N. But the main problem is the -N change all files to "only read", and are impossible to work with that files. Several time ago, some friends mention that are very difficult to kill the -N. I suppose that are not virus, I used three anti-virus and the problem remains. And are not a specific program, running several programs I have the same problem. And as you realize, this block to running any program, because I need to read and write all files. Thanks!

ijack October 15, 2012 at 08:11:10

✔ Best Answer

A slight correction to my previous post. Some people report that the attribute means that the file is "non-indexed", in which case indexing it would set the attribute. See http://www.vistax64.com/vista-gener... . But this would not make the file read-only, and all reports that I see say that the attribute is not visible in a command prompt. One thought that occurs to me - are you using a non-English version of Windows? That would possibly alter things.

No, I use Windows Pro XP english. I see the -N if I run the dos attribute, attrib *.*. My code try to read/write a file, and stop with the message "that file do not exist". But the file really exist, but marked as "read only". And any "attrib" do not change the -N, even if you copy to another directory and try to change. Naturally, this block the program, as I need to write/read files. As a matter of fact, these my codes are running for years. Thanks!!!

mortneff October 15, 2012 at 09:33:56

Could this be a translation issue? I have never seen attrib return a -N for the 30 years I have used it. Could -N be a composite reference to the binary extended attributes?

ijack October 15, 2012 at 10:51:11

That's odd. The "n" attribute only appeared with Vista so I have no idea why you see it on an XP system.

Thanks, ijack, I used the procedure as in the vista.com site, and worked very well.

you can Google for the answers.