Excel files become "Read Only" after copying to CD; WHY?

[Mark@ERAU]

I may be having a bran hic-up.... I'm having the same issue with both my 6
year old computer and my brand new one. Maybe it's the disk; but I can't
figure that to be. Although I'll admit I'm not as up to speed as I should
when it comes to selecting the right CDs.

Either way, I copy an Excel file to the CD. I then later try to copy over
that file because I've updated it. I'm using the CD as a back up. Every
time I do this I have to recreate another folder, and copy it under another
file name because it won't allow me to overwrite the existing file because it
states "access denied, file is read only". The profiles of the original file
verify the file is not designated as a "Read Only" file.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[Ken Johnson]

I may be having a bran hic-up.... I'm having the same issue with both my 6
year old computer and my brand new one. Maybe it's the disk; but I can't
figure that to be. Although I'll admit I'm not as up to speed as I should
when it comes to selecting the right CDs.

Either way, I copy an Excel file to the CD. I then later try to copy over
that file because I've updated it. I'm using the CD as a back up. Every
time I do this I have to recreate another folder, and copy it under another
file name because it won't allow me to overwrite the existing file because it
states "access denied, file is read only". The profiles of the original file
verify the file is not designated as a "Read Only" file.

What am I doing wrong?

Hi Mark,

You can get rewritable CDs, but I don't know anyone that uses them.
They are difficult to use compared to other media available today, such
as USB thumbdrives.
I'm guessing you are using the usual type of CD that can written to
just the once, they can't be edited after that.

Ken Johnson

 

[Mallycat]

All files burnt to a CD are read only. If you are doing an incremental
burn, you will have to give it a new name or put it in a different
folder. you can copy the file to a HDD and change the attributes to
remove the read only status.

matt

 

[Mark@ERAU]

I should have stated that I'm using CD-RW, not CD-R. I've used such CDs for
back-ups of various files, usually Word documents for years. Ken did suggest
what may be a good alternative, a USB thumbdrive. Have one, should get more,
they are very convienent, and may satisfy my need for the few files I need to
back up. This is the first I've heard that a file is always Read Only when
copying to a CD, but that IS what I'm seeing, so I believe you. I've always
used a RW CD to back up my Quicken data, and it appears to overwrite the
existing data every time I do so. And I have overwritten Word and Excel
files before using Read-Write CDs. Thanks for the tip on copying to another
folder on the hard drive, then changing the attributes. That's a good idea
too.

 

[Lamb Chop]

I should have stated that I'm using CD-RW, not CD-R. I've used such CDs for
back-ups of various files, usually Word documents for years. Ken did suggest
what may be a good alternative, a USB thumbdrive. Have one, should get more,
they are very convienent, and may satisfy my need for the few files I need to
back up. This is the first I've heard that a file is always Read Only when
copying to a CD, but that IS what I'm seeing, so I believe you. I've always
used a RW CD to back up my Quicken data, and it appears to overwrite the
existing data every time I do so. And I have overwritten Word and Excel
files before using Read-Write CDs. Thanks for the tip on copying to another
folder on the hard drive, then changing the attributes. That's a good idea
too.

 

[Lamb Chop]

It does not matter whether you use cd-r or cd-rw. The difference of CD-RW
and -R is only the dye. In CD-RW, after it burn it changes its phase and it
can convert it back to its original state if it is lit by the certain the
laser with certain wavelenght. The change in CD-R dye is irreveriable
therefore can only write once.

 

[Captjack]

Where is the response to Marks' question located

 

[Dave Peterson]

You can use google to search for old posts:

http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search

Specify
*excel*
in the "Return only messages from the group at this location" box

And put the subject in the "Return only messages where the subject contains"
box.

(or use the author or any key words -- just to limit the search)