WinNT Explorer Clears Archive Attribute After Perms Change

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

While you change permissions on files or directories located on an NTFS partition, the file system sets the archive bit active and updates the time stamp for the file.

Explorer will erroneously clear the archive bit while exiting the properties box by selecting OK all the way out after changing permissions. If the archive bit is cleared, the file or directory will not be backed-up during incremental backups.

CAUSE

This is caused by the order that the property pages are applied. When you change something through the permissions dialog box, it changes the file immediately, turning on the archive bit at that moment to the file or directory. When you press OK on that dialog box, the first page (General) sees that it wants the file to be non-archived, so it turns off the archive bit. Then the permissions page saves, which does nothing because it has already done its work.

RESOLUTION

After you change permissions on a file or directory, do NOT click OK, but instead go back to the General tab prior to leaving the properties dialog box. When you use this procedure, the file or directory will retain an accurate setting.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.