Copying a drawing, specific blocks/lines dont change colour

[NSCElectrical]

Maybe im doing it wrong.

when i copy a drawing from someone, and i insert it into my own drawing.

Do i insert this into layer 0 or a made layer say named 'greyed out' ?

what i currently do is insert this onto greyed out layer, in Layerstatesettings, i make an original save, and i make one called greyed out (select all my layers and select my said colour)

This doesnt change all the lines/blocks - they keep their original colours

Due to this i xplode the drawings, and manually go through all lines and blocks and change the colour.

is there a faster way or a more direct route to change everything, if im doing xref i simply do layerstatesettings, then xrefoveride - this works flawless 

[pendean]

You seem to have forgotten an AutoCAD golden rule: content already in the destination file including name and settings always govern/rule over the same exact content copied over from an outside source file.

So your destination file has blocks with those names but set/created differently, and/or layers with the same names set differently. There is no easy fix, copying content from one file to another require you to truly plan ahead.

XREF is different but better if that is acceptable to your workflows.

You could also "copy" from your destination file into your source file instead: yes, the reverse, that way you are taking advantage of the golden rule I noted in the first sentence above instead of fighting it like you do now.

HTH