The attrib command is a Recovery Console command used to change the file attributes for a file or directory while in Recovery Console.
attrib [+r|-r] [+s|-s] [+h|-h] [+c|-c] [filename]
+r = This assigns the read-only file attribute to the file or directory.
-r = This removes the read-only attribute.
+s = This assigns the system file attribute to the file or directory.
-s = This removes the system attribute.
+h = This assigns the hidden file attribute to the file or directory.
-h = This removes the hidden attribute.
+c = This assigns the compressed file attribute to the file or directory.
-c = This removes the compressed attribute.
filename = This is the file or directory that you are wanting to change the attributes of.
attrib +r c:\windows\system\secretfolder
In the above example, the attrib command is used to turn on the read only attribute, using the +r option, for the secretfolder directory located in c:\windows\system.
attrib -h c:\config.sys
In this example, the config.sys file located in the root directory of the c: drive has its hidden file attribute cleared by use of the -h option.
The attrib command is available from within the Recovery Console in Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
The attrib command is also accessible from the Command Prompt in any version of Windows.
The attrib command is often used with many of the Recovery Console commands.
