SOLVED: HIDDEN is Enabled but Greyed Out So You Cannot Change It After Using RoboCopy

This has been an annoyance for many versions of Windows starting somewhere around the Vista \ Server 2008 time frame.

PROBLEM:

If you use Robocopy to copy folders they will be set to HIDDEN and the HIDDEN check box will be greyed out… can you say anoying.

CAUSE:

The HIDDEN Check Box becomes greyed out when a folder is CUSTOMIZED (right click a folder > PROPERTIES > CUSTOMIZE) so the solution is to un-customize it

SOLUTION… ok, lets call it a work-around:

There is a two step solution to this issue:

1. right click folder > PROPERTIES > CUSTOMIZE (tab) > RESTORE DEFAULT > OK (button)
2. right click folder > PROPERTIES > uncheck READ ONLY and HIDDEN > OK (button)

 

For more detail you might find THIS support thread or THIS KBase article useful.