[SOLVED] cannot remove 'test.bz2': Operation not permitted

andrewysk · 03-18-2021, 02:37 PM

I created this "test.bz2" last time when i was learning to use tar..
After sometime i saw it and want to delete it , because i no longer need it.
But i can't.

Code:

$ rm *
rm: cannot remove 'test.bz2': Operation not permitted

Code:

$ ls -l
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user 22356381 Feb 27 14:17 test.bz2

Code:

$ chmod a+x *
chmod: changing permissions of 'test.bz2': Operation not permitted

What's wrong ? I can't think of any other reason why.

Emerson · 03-18-2021, 03:04 PM

Is this user:user your actual user? Did you set any extended attributes on this file?

andrewysk · 03-18-2021, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emerson

Is this user:user your actual user? Did you set any extended attributes on this file?

Yes, that user is my account.

I don't get your question.

Code:

Did you set any extended attributes on this file?

Emerson · 03-18-2021, 03:29 PM

"extended attributes" is the clue, at this point you are supposed to say ahaa! and look it up.

redd9 · 03-18-2021, 03:49 PM

Code:

lsattr test.bz2

computersavvy · 03-18-2021, 06:34 PM

If the file happens to be in a directory where you do not have execute permissions you cannot delete a file. You also cannot delete a file within a directory where your user does not have write permissions, even if you own and have write permissions on the file itself

Try doing

Code:

ls -l ..

while in that directory. Also, walk the directory tree from the root directory to that one and make certain that at every level "ls -l" shows that either you are the owner or that the permissions are at minimum rwxr-xr-x. Without permissions at every level you cannot do things with files that you expect to be normal actions.

Finally, and this is a last ditch effort because an error can break your system, you can use sudo like

Code:

sudo rm /path/to/test.bz2

Emerson · 03-18-2021, 06:44 PM

Quote:

You also cannot delete a file within a directory where your user does not have write permissions, even if you own and have write permissions on the file itself

This is not true, only some GUI file managers may behave like this, and this must be considered a bug.

computersavvy · 03-18-2021, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emerson

This is not true, only some GUI file managers may behave like this, and this must be considered a bug.

Code:

[user@eagle temp3]$ ls -l ../
dr-xr-xr-x.   2 user user     4096 Mar 18 18:28  temp3

$ ls -l
-rw-rw-r--. 1 user user 2753 Mar 18 18:28 testit

$ rm testit
rm: cannot remove 'testit': Permission denied

$ cd ..
$ rm -r temp3
rm: descend into write-protected directory 'temp3'? y
rm: cannot remove 'temp3/testit': Permission denied

That is in the bash shell, not a file manager, in a subdirectory of my $HOME, where I deliberately tried to remove the file where I owned the directory and the file, the file was writable, the directory is both read and execute but currently not writable.
Notice that even though I moved up one level (to my home directory) I still was unable to remove the directory and its content because the directory was not writable by my user and I could not remove the file inside it.

I stand by my last statement.
If the user does not have write permission in the directory he cannot delete a file even if he owns it.

To delete the file he would have to write to the inodes within that directory which is not allowed.

Emerson · 03-18-2021, 09:04 PM

I did similar test, but now I realize I got the write permission via group which my user belongs to. My bad.

Brains · 03-18-2021, 11:03 PM

Wouldn't hurt to run e2fsck -f on the file system from Linux Live or another Linux on the same system if permissions appear to be in order.

andrewysk · 03-19-2021, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emerson

"extended attributes" is the clue, at this point you are supposed to say ahaa! and look it up.

Ahaa! I have read about it.. maybe i did something like that in the past as i was learning this and that.. I can faintly recalled somewhat of that sort of thing.

andrewysk · 03-19-2021, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redd9

Code:

lsattr test.bz2

Code:

lsattr test.bz2
----i---------e------- test.bz2

Currently i have not master extended attribute stuff.. hence show you the output first to analyze.

Emerson · 03-19-2021, 02:32 PM

OK, you were learning it in past but now you want us to tell what it is. Methinks it is time for you to go over it again, then your time spent on learning won't be wasted.

andrewysk · 03-19-2021, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by computersavvy

If the file happens to be in a directory where you do not have execute permissions you cannot delete a file. You also cannot delete a file within a directory where your user does not have write permissions, even if you own and have write permissions on the file itself

Try doing

Code:

ls -l ..

while in that directory. Also, walk the directory tree from the root directory to that one and make certain that at every level "ls -l" shows that either you are the owner or that the permissions are at minimum rwxr-xr-x. Without permissions at every level you cannot do things with files that you expect to be normal actions.

Code:

$ ls -l ..
total 4
drwxrwxrwx 2 user user 4096 Mar 17 20:58 test

I have total right to the folder, so with everyone (bcos i have use chmod 777 before this)

Code:

$ sudo rm *.*
[sudo] password for user: 
rm: cannot remove 'user.bz2': Operation not permitted

andrewysk · 03-19-2021, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emerson

OK, you were learning it in past but now you want us to tell what it is. Methinks it is time for you to go over it again, then your time spent on learning won't be wasted.

No, pls guide me first.
I have not went thru the whole command last time, just briefly knew this command. I will surely go thru later .. Thx.