Ensuring the security and integrity of your folders and files on a Windows computer, especially when shared among multiple users, is paramount. There are various tools and functions available to help protect your data, and one effective technique involves setting the read-only attribute. This attribute prevents files and folders from being overwritten, modified, or deleted, providing an additional layer of security.
When you apply the read-only attribute to content stored on your PC, it becomes view-only, making it inaccessible for editing or deletion by others. You can utilize this attribute to add extra write protection to sensitive files or folders, or even entire hard drives or partitions. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create read-only partitions in Windows using the Command Prompt.
Creating Read-Only Partitions in Windows with CMD:
-
Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
- To get started, open Command Prompt with administrator privileges. You can do this by typing “cmd” into the Windows search box, right-clicking on “Command Prompt,” and selecting “Run as administrator.”
-
Launch Diskpart:
- Once you have an elevated Command Prompt window open, type the following command to launch Diskpart, a built-in Windows utility:
Diskpart
- Once you have an elevated Command Prompt window open, type the following command to launch Diskpart, a built-in Windows utility:
-
List Available Disks:
- To see a list of available disks and partitions on your computer, enter the following command:
list disk
- To see a list of available disks and partitions on your computer, enter the following command:
-
Select the Disk or Partition:
- Identify the disk or partition you want to set as read-only. Each entry will have a corresponding number that serves as an identifier. To select the specific disk or partition, use the following command (replace “NUMBER” with the appropriate value from the list):
select disk NUMBER
- Identify the disk or partition you want to set as read-only. Each entry will have a corresponding number that serves as an identifier. To select the specific disk or partition, use the following command (replace “NUMBER” with the appropriate value from the list):
-
Set the Read-Only Attribute:
- Finally, to mark the selected partition or disk as read-only, execute the following command:
attributes disk set readonly
- Finally, to mark the selected partition or disk as read-only, execute the following command:
-
Confirmation and Protection:
- The tool will confirm the attribute change, indicating that the entire partition or disk is now protected with read-only status. From this point forward, no modifications or deletions can be made to files on that hard drive.
By following these steps, you can enhance the security of your data by creating read-only partitions in Windows. This measure helps safeguard your files from unwanted changes or deletions, ensuring the integrity of your important data. Whether you’re concerned about accidental alterations or unauthorized access, setting partitions to read-only can provide an added layer of protection for your digital assets.
