Creating a Read Alias for Folder: Keeping Original Contents 'Pristine' in Windows

Creating Read-Only Aliases of Folders in Windows: Keeping Original Contents Pristine

In this article, we will discuss how to create read-only aliases of folders in Windows while keeping the original contents pristine. This technique can be useful when you want to prevent tools from modifying the original contents of a folder. By creating a read-only alias, you can ensure that the original folder remains unchanged, while still being able to access its contents through the alias.

Why Create Read-Only Aliases of Folders?

There are several reasons why you might want to create read-only aliases of folders in Windows:

• To prevent accidental modifications to the original folder or its contents.
• To allow multiple users to access the same folder without the risk of conflicts or changes.
• To create a backup of a folder without having to duplicate the entire contents.

How to Create a Read-Only Alias of a Folder

Creating a read-only alias of a folder in Windows is a relatively simple process. Here are the steps:

1. Navigate to the folder you want to create an alias for.
2. Right-click on the folder and select New > Shortcut.
3. Enter a name for the shortcut and click Next.
4. Select the location where you want to create the shortcut and click Finish.
5. Right-click on the shortcut and select Properties.
6. In the Properties dialog box, click on the Advanced button.
7. Check the box next to Read-only and click OK.
8. Click OK again to close the Properties dialog box.

Testing the Read-Only Alias

To test the read-only alias, try modifying the contents of the original folder. You should not be able to make any changes. However, you should still be able to access the contents of the folder through the read-only alias.

References

• Creating Read-Only Shortcuts in Windows 10, Microsoft Support, https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/creating-read-only-shortcuts-in-windows-10-1ca1934d-5a9b-6a8c-c9e8-88c20d2642b7
• How to Create a Read-Only Shortcut in Windows, Lifewire, https://www.lifewire.com/create-read-only-shortcut-in-windows-4170580