Being relatively new both to Linux and this forum, i am sorry if i make a post that already is, evn though i couldn`t find it.

My problem is i can`t move downloaded files over to root filesystem, i have downloaded and unpacked them to files.
To use a more direct problem, i downloaded aMSN, i wanted to change it`s looks and downloaded a skin, i open root, go to usr---> amsn ---> share --> skins, now i am to copy the file of the skin over to the root directory, but i keep getting a error message saying i have no authorisation, what am i doing wrong ?

I also tried alt+f2, writing sudo conqueror, as an advice i got, but there was noe difference..
Please help me on this one guys, thanks in advance.

If it's telling you you don't have authority then you need to be root to copy the file to that directory. If you are using one of the Ubuntu's prefix the cp command with sudo.

sudo cp <filename> /path/to/directory/for/<filename>

That would be if you are already in the directory that contains the file/s you want to copy. With other distros you can also su to root then copy the files over. Also make sure of your syntax linux is case sensitive, so cp file and cp File are two different things.

Hope that helps

Now i got this message: "bash: syntax error near unexpected token `newline'" in the terminal.
I haven really gotten to know the terminal good enough, i had ubuntu 8.10 last year, but i never had the need for using it, so to be honest, i don`t think i have used the terminal more than ten times, if so many...
And yes, i downloaded the kubuntu prefix from their homepage.

Please post what you typed in the terminal to generate this error.

This is what i typed: sudo cp <Dark_Matter-1.0 /path/to/directory/for/<skins>

i also tried this one: sudo cp <Dark_Matter-1.0 /path/to/directory/for/<amsn>

You need to replace
with the path to the directory
lets say the directory where you want to copy the files to is
then you type
If Dark_Matter-1.0 is a directory you need to type
To copy the directory and all the files in it.

I get the feeling something is really wrong here, now i tried that one to, and i got the "no such file or directory" note, even though i can sit here looking at Dolphin seeing it`s there.
It seems like no matter what i do, it won`t let me go root

Bjornmagne,

You don't have the copy the brace "<" this is not important.
What mrrangerman meant was simply to substitute <this contents> with that yours without this " < " and without this " > " at the tail.

sudo cp Dark_Matter-1.0 /home

you will need to type in the password for the root after hitting <Enter> key to confirm your authority otherwise the command will not be executed.

In that example I have given you, the Dark_Matter-1.0 file shall be copied to the folder named /home. So after copying it you will need "cd" command to go to /home folder and find out if it is there.

Also, in order to succeed the above command you should be located at the folder where Dark_Matter-1.0 is located, otherwise the command will return "no file no folder" and it cannot execute for you.

To go to a folder you will need "cd" command. Example: cd /home/downloads this will take you to the /home/downloads folder.

To see if the file is there, you will use the " ls " command. Example: ls -l this will give you long listing of all regular files within the folder.

It pays to read a good tutorial. Use google to find webpages offering tutorials.

hope this helps.

good luck.

Where you are sitting, type
do you see the file?
you need to give the whole path to the file, or change to directory where the file is.
If the file is at your desktop
type

Yes, i could see the file, placed at amsn_received.
i typed cd amsn received, then i got this note: bjrn@bjrnlaptop:~/amsn_received$

Bjornmagne,

"

It is becoming clear that you are not working as "root" user. IF you want complete freedom run as root user:

sudo -i
(then enter the root password when you are prompted)

Being root you can copy anything to anywhere, but be careful, root user account is reserved to users "who know what he is doing" otherwise you'd commit accidental damage to system files.

It pays a lot to get familiar with basic linux commands, so give time to read tutorial, there's one downloadable hereunder my signature. or you can go to this page: http://www.hscripts.com/tutorials/li...ands/index.php and get familiar with basic terminal commands.

What makes your simple problem very hard for us to help you solve is actually, WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH WHERE WHICH FOLDER YOU ARE ON and also it seems difficult for you to know either. So having a little workable knowledge on LInux file system and basic commands can greatly help you and us in helping you.

Hope this helps.

Good luck and be careful using root account.

no type

It still doesn`t happen anything, i get this message: cp: hopper over katalogen «Dark_Matter-1.0», which wil be translated to something like skipping the catalog..etc

If you want to copy the whole directory use
if you want to copy only certain files, first type
Then copy the files you need

what about trying the tab completion?? after typing one or two letters of the directory.press tab. bash will complete the rest for you..then do as Repo says.