mdb file suddenly becomes "read only"

[John S. Ford, MD]

I have an mdb file that I periodically back-up on a flash memory key. Today
for reasons that allude me, when I attempt to paste the file to the memory
key I get an error message that says this operation can't be done because
the file is "read only". I seem to be able to make a copy and copy it
elsewhere on the hard disk but not to the memory key.

A check of the properties reveals that it is NOT "read only" and besides,
why would that preclude me from cutting and pasting to another location
anyway? Any ideas?

John

 

[Wayne Morgan]

I would suspect that the file already exists on the memory key and that the
copy on the memory key is read-only and therefore can't be overwritten.
Other possibilities are that the lock button on the memory key has been
moved making the memory key read-only or that the file is too large to be
copied to the free space on the memory key and the error message is wrong.

 

[John S. Ford, MD]

Wayne,

The file does NOT exist already on the memory key and nothing is being
overwritten. There is no "lock" button on this type of key. The key has
MUCH more space available than the mdb file takes up. I definitely
appreciate the ideas though! This behavior is new and sudden and has me
baffled.

John

 

[John Nurick]

Hi John,

This sounds more like a Windows issue than an Access one.

One thought that comes to mind is that the memory key is FAT-formatted
and that you've run out of root directory entries. Try creating a folder
on the key (deleting some other files first if necessary) and copying
into that. Or re-format the key (using FAT unless you are certain that
it supports NTFS).

Wayne,

The file does NOT exist already on the memory key and nothing is being
overwritten. There is no "lock" button on this type of key. The key has
MUCH more space available than the mdb file takes up. I definitely
appreciate the ideas though! This behavior is new and sudden and has me
baffled.

John

 

[John S. Ford, MD]

Thanks John,

I'll check that out.