Article ID: 121068
Article Last Modified on 5/6/2003
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft MS-DOS 3.3 Standard Edition
- Microsoft MS-DOS 3.3a
- Microsoft MS-DOS 4.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft MS-DOS 4.01 Standard Edition
- Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0a
- Microsoft MS-DOS 6.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft MS-DOS 6.2 Standard Edition
- Microsoft MS-DOS 6.21 Standard Edition
- Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q121068
SYMPTOMS
The Remove Directory command (RMDIR or RD) removes read-only directories without generating a warning message or error.
CAUSE
Before a directory can be removed using the RD or RMDIR command, all files and subdirectories, including any files or subdirectories with set attributes (Read-Only, System, Hidden, and/or Archive) must be deleted. However, when the directory itself has a Read-Only attribute set, RMDIR or RD deletes the empty directory with no warning or error messages.
The ATTRIB <file or directory> +R command sets Read-Only attributes to files and directories. The RMDIR and RD commands ignore any ATTRIB-set attributes (Read-Only, System, Hidden, Archive) directories.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MS-DOS versions 3.3x, 4.x, 5.x, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, and 6.22. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.
Additional query words: 6.00 6.20
Keywords: KB121068
