ITsVISTA
Information that makes life easier when it comes to installing, managing, and using Windows Vista.
Start About FAQ Blogroll Shop

Vista's ATTRIB Command

Displays or changes file attributes.

ATTRIB [+R | -R] [+A | -A ] [+S | -S] [+H | -H] [+I | -I] [drive:][path][filename] [/S [/D] [/L]]

+
Sets an attribute.
Clears an attribute.
R
Read-only file attribute.
A
Archive file attribute.
S
System file attribute.
H
Hidden file attribute.
I
Not content indexed file attribute.
[drive:][path][filename]
Specifies a file or files for attrib to process.
/S
Processes matching files in the current folder and all subfolders.
/D
Processes folders as well.
/L
Work on the attributes of the Symbolic Link versus the target of the Symbolic Link

Get notified of new posts for FREE via RSS or E-mail

Subscribe to ITsVISTA!

Related Posts

Comments

  • someone

    Apr 23, 2007 at 6:35 pm

    What’s the N attribute do?

  • Joe

    Apr 24, 2007 at 3:15 pm

    The N attribute (which the ATTRIB command doesn’t appear to recognize) is for ‘Not Content Indexed’.

  • Sandy Jeakins

    Sep 16, 2007 at 12:37 am

    Hi,

    It appears to me that the DOS commands in Vista do not work on system files. Any feedback?

    Sandy

  • hfrmobile

    May 1, 2008 at 2:49 am

    It seems that the ‘N’ attribute (File Explorer) is the same like ‘I’ attribute (ATTRIB command )

    “Not content indexed file attribute”

    Yes, it will not work on system files. I am sorry, I don’t know when this attribute is set/removed etc. (found no rules, when the indexing service may sets/removes this attribute)

    But why has M$ used two “names” for one new attribute (N, I, …)!?

  • Antitrust

    Dec 10, 2008 at 11:49 am

    Hi,

    Somehow, the attrib command stopped working on my vista os. I get a response saying ” ‘attrib’ is not recognised as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.” Point is uptil a week before, it worked! Any solutions pl! It’s very urgent!

  • Lars Wedde

    Feb 7, 2009 at 9:20 am

    Antitrust, did you ever find a solution for your problem? I seem to be having the same issue.

  • sangram

    Feb 11, 2009 at 5:14 am

    Somehow, the attrib command stopped working on my vista os. I get a response saying ” ‘attrib’ is not recognised as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.” Point is uptil a week before, it worked! Any solutions pl! It’s very urgent!

  • hfrmobile

    Feb 26, 2009 at 11:51 am

    You may try the “System Restore” features (which already helped me restoring fatal network problems) …

  • sansoo22

    Jul 26, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    Having trouble with my attrib command as well. Run from the cmd prompt it works fine but run from a batch script and it gets stuck in an endless loop.

  • Puru

    Oct 4, 2009 at 9:50 pm

    you need to start cmd.exe with administrative previledges. its simple, rightclick on cmd.exe and choose option “Run as administrator” then you can perform maximum commands.

Leave a Comment