File Attributes

All files and folders, whether on FAT- or NTFS-formatted disks, can be marked with attributes that give you limited control over how a file or folder is used. The file attributes you can use are:

Read-only
Specifies that the file or folder is read-only and cannot be modified.

Hidden
Specifies that the file or folder is hidden and can be viewed only if the folder option "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" is enabled.

System
Identifies a system file or folder that can be viewed only if the folder option "Hide protected operating system files" is disabled.

You can view or change the Read-Only and Hidden attributes on a file or folder by completing the following steps:

1. In Windows Explorer, right-click the file or folder and select Properties to display its Properties dialog box.
2. On the General tab, select the Read-only checkbox to make a file or folder read-only. Clear the Read-only checkbox to allow a file or folder to be read and modified.
3. To hide a file or folder so that it can be viewed only if the folder option "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" is enabled, select the Hidden checkbox. Otherwise, clear this checkbox to allow a file or folder to be viewed normally.
4. Click OK to save your changes.

Generally, Windows 7 manages the System attribute. Windows 7 marks files and folders that you shouldn't modify as system files. You can view files and folders marked with the hidden and system attributes by completing the following steps:

1. In Windows Explorer, click Organize on the toolbar and then select Folder and Search Options.
2. On the View tab, select "Show hidden files and folders" to show hidden files and folders.
3. To show system files and folders, clear the "Hide protected operating system files" checkbox.
4. Click OK to save your settings.

Although these attributes can be set on files and folders, anyone with access to a disk or device can override or change these settings. This means that without additional permission controls, these attributes provide no safeguards for file access or deletion that someone can't override easily.