In the properties of file system, owner,group and others are given as 'unknown'. Access for all is 'read-only'. How do I change the permissions so that I can edit stuff in file system?

What file system do you use? Sounds like you either have it mounted read-only or as if the user/group id numbers have changed on your system.

Without knowing what distribution/file system you are using, it's not easy to know..

Could you post your /etc/fstab file?

I'm using debian(gnome). Ext3 file system. Here is the contents of fstab file.


# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
/dev/hda1 / ext3 errors=remount-ro 0 1
/dev/hda5 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/hdd /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto 0 0

Still not soved

Seems like the option "errors=remount-ro" is forcing the filesystem to be mounted read-only because of errors in the file system. Try shutting down the system with the command "shutdown -Fr now" (as root or through sudo) which would force a file system check at boot time. (The -F forces check/fix, and the -r reboots the system.) This might fix the problem.

That fixed the problem?

No, it didn't. It checked the file system upon boot up and all. But it's still shown as read-only.

And it does not tell you of any errors when mounting? Have you checked the logs?

How did this happen? Is this a fresh install?

Have you tried removing the "errors=remount-ro" and replacing it with "defaults"?

How do I check the logs? Yes, this is a fresh install. And how do I replace "errors=remount-ro" with "defaults"? What is it?

It shows an error about some mailing system after it tries to load MTA. And a warning about some daemon..

macubex:

Here are some tips to your questions.

==Q:"How do I check the logs"

Tip:

At the terminal enter:

sudo less /var/log/syslog
<enter password>

(a log file opens and you may examine system events at boot time, or)

dmesg | less

(similar info is displayed for your curiousity over the system)

==Q:"And how do I replace "errors=remount-ro" with "defaults"? What is it? "

Tip:

At the terminal enter:

sudo gedit /etc/fstab
<enter password>

Replace the line:

/dev/hda1 / ext3 errors=remount-ro 0 1

Into following--

/dev/hda1 / ext3 defaults 0 0

Click save and close the file. Reboot.

The fourth column containing either "defaults" or "error-remount-ro" specifies some parameters at "how" the system treats the mounted volume which certainly affect permissions.

I am not sure if under your Debian "gedit" editor is enabled but in Ubuntu or Mint it is preinstalled. So just in case command 'sudo gedit /etc/fstab' doesn't work just try another editor, say, 'sudo vi /etc/fstab' here you must read first how to use vi editor. Its very easy: all you need to learn are just few commands in vi; try 'man vi' or 'vi --help' for some basic helps.

ANOTHER WAY TO TACKLE YOUR PROBLEM

If "ownership" is what you want over a folder or file, enter:

sudo chown -R /folder_name

If "permission" to change a file is what you want, enter:

sudo chmod 775 ./file_name

To make your linux experience more enjoyable please read a good tutorial of its basic philosophy and commands. Try download a pdf tutorial for reference offline. One good tutorial for download it this:
http://www.freebookcentre.net/unix-b...heer)-PDF.html

I hope this helps.

Check back how it goes. There are other helpful users that might see this post and give you better suggestions.

Goodluck.

Malek

Thank you for your help.I did that. But the problem still remains.