Hi ,I am brand new to linux,so many will have to look over my lack of linux no-how. It seems like alomst everything I try to do from the terminal window cmd line ends up with a 'permission denied'.From the root terminal when I enter /etc/services I get 'permission denied'. If I enter /etc/samba/smb.conf I get 'permission denied' The full line is 'bash: /etc/samba/smb.conf: Permission denied'. I looked around here for a post with the answer,but most of the post were specific to one thing. I get 'permission denied' to almost everything. I have installed and am trying to learn Debian etch. I know when someone post the answer I am going to feel real stupid,but sometimes I have to feel real stupid in the learning process,, Thanks to anyone who can try to help me out here.

Try nano /etc/samba/smb.conf if you wish to edit the file or if just wanting to look at the contents less /etc/samba/smb.conf then use the up/down arrow keys to scroll and the q key to quit the viewing to get back to the terminal command line. You might want to Google search on the Rute Linux User Guide and do some reading to get some basic background information on using linux or if you want a local copy on your machine install the rutebook package and direct your browser to /usr/share/doc/rutebook/html/index.html.

Those permission denied errors are given because you don't have execute permissions for those files. UNIX uses permission bits instead of extensions to determine whether or not files are executable and to restrict which users can execute which files and which users cannot. Since those files are configuration files and not programs, the execute bits are all cleared, thus no user has permission to execute those files.

Well I think you are right, but as the OP mentioned that OP is new to linux I think HappyTux is right. In the sense that the user was just typing:
instead of
i.e. no command was given along with the file path.

Both comments are distinct bits of information relevant to the question.

Everyone's right.

Thanks a bunch to all of you!! I knew it would be something simple and I would feel stupid I am planning on quite a few weeks of head banging trying to learn this,but I intend to learn linux or die trying! Thank you again for all the help,you are great!_______ Just a note a few hours later-found and downloaded the Rute Guide. Learned how to install a Deb file along the way. Have RuteBook bookmarked in Epiphany,and will be visiting every day,, Thanks again to every one of you for the great help!