File Attributes Have Changed to Read Only, Archive, or Hidden!

I noticed that when I recently copied files to mya DVD-RW that later when I
tried to delete these files, Windows XP said that they were write protected,
and could not be deleted. So I went into My Documents, and did a new
Attributes change eliminating any and all the boxes checked. However upon
reboot of the computer, I noticed that they were back to the way they were.
This also caused a serious problem with USB Mass Storage Devices in that when
I loaded files from My Documents onto the 2GB SanDisk (Skins), I could not
delete them as I was told they were also "Write Protected." Nor, could I add
anything to the SanDisk! This seems to be happening to my DVD-RW's as well,
and I believe it is causing a recognition problem with all ove my USB Mass
Storage Devices. Can anyone tell me of a permanent way to set file and
folder attributes so that they will remain open and not write protected,
archived, hidden, or read only? It appears that when they are so configured,
and transferred, that the attributes go with them no matter what. I didn't
apply these attributes at any time to any folder or file, so why did they
suddenly become so configured?