Linpus Lite - Change File/Folder Permissions
 

I own an Acer Aspire One which has Linpus Lite installed. Last night I attempted to delete a couple of files only to find they are read only and that I cannot change the permissions by right clicking and changing the drop down menu from read only.

These aren't protected files or anything, they are files I've downloaded or created myself (one using the onboard web cam to test it).

I attempted to play with Terminal for a bit but as a newbie I got easily lost, not like I can fall back on command prompt knowledge from Windows!

I think it's somehow connected with the user which accesses these docs or tries to change the permissions. I also tried with an su- which meant I was using Terminal as root, however, I wasn't sure how I could then set the permissions for a particular file/folder within the file system.

Thanks in advance!

You can see the permissions with ls -l command. This command will show permissions for user, group and other as well as who the user/owner is and which group has what access. You can remove files from the command line with the rm -i command (the i will prompt to ask if you want to remove). Need to be careful with this because when removed, it is removed and no going back.

I would suggest you do a google search for linux commands or more specifically the rm (remove) and chmod (for changing permissions) chown (change ownership) and chgrp (change group). There are many sites with detailed information available.

Thanks for the reply.

I was in a specific folder and opened Terminal, from here I attempted to change these permissions using chmod, however, this didn't work. I suspect this is because Terminal was not logged on as root.

When I used su- to run as root (I guess like Elevated command prompt in Vista/Win7) I think it would have worked but I'm not sure how I could navigate to the same directory I was in - When I tried the same commands it didn't recognise the filename.

How do I go about moving around in Terminal? - i.e. cd\ cd directory name etc in cmd prompt?

Thanks!

Quick guide to get you started:

cd <directory name> moves you to directory <directory name>

cd ~ moves you to the current user's home directory

PS1="\w$ " changes the prompt to the full path name of the current directory followed by a dollar sign followed by a space. Very useful for figuring out where you are in the filesystem.

sudo <command> execute <command> as the root user (doesn't change your location)

I think the file system may be the issue here.

so i tried
which produced a few lines, critically (i think) this one:
The ro after the vfat suggests to me it's a read only file system so even changing properties as root to write will fail.

I tried this, but i think it's incomplete as i got sort of help file text:
any help please guys?! I think I'm making slow progress lol

cheers!

You should specify / as separate argument.
Edit: It should not be the root filesystem.

Thanls konsolebox, I've yet to try this. Hopefully this evening when I get home :)

I went to the videos directory, opened terminal...

then I entered my password.

I tried:
all on the one line. It didn't complain. I went to my directory and tried to change the permissions of a file within. It didn't allow me. Back in terminal:

When still logged in as root. This produced the same error as before:

Starting to get annoying - logically it should work. I must be missing something. Any clues anyone?

Thanks.

Have you tried the disk on other systems?.. Like just know if it's still capable of writing data. Maybe it's the drive that already has the problem. Btw the filesystem in the drive is not NTFS right?

As I have said many times, Linpus Lite is a crippleware distro. Comparing it to something more complete like Fedora, Ubuntu or Mint is like comparing Windows 7 Starter to Windows 7 Ultimate!

You don't get the full effect of Linux with Linpus, I'm sorry. There's no display manager, so there's no way of logging out and in again as root. Acer's application launcher is burned into the desktop, which means there's no option to change the wallpaper (Well, doesn't that sound familiar!). The package manager is hidden: you literally have to type "sudo system-config-packages" in a terminal window. And even if you attempt to use it to change the DE, you get enough errors resolving dependencies that it doesn't really matter.

I got that impression Kenny. I'm in no way attached to it what so ever! - How would I go about installing a new, better, more supported distribution? - I do have a portable CD drive which works with this laptop - would I be able to try a 'live cd' of a distro?

This: http://www.ubuntu.com/netbook for example looks ideal - a decent distro and intended for netbooks.

I'm aware of how I'd do this on a windows PC - boot from cd, Win GUI gives you the option of where to install, how to format the existing hdd, etc. Is this the same with this Ubuntu Netbook Remix?

I'm fully aware of the need to backup documents/media etc - that's not a major headache.

Do you also have a USB flash drive you can use?

I do but pen drives often seem to be the problem (only root can mount etc.)

However, I burnt Ubuntu netbook remix to a cd and gave it a try last night. I liked it :)

1. Is that a suitable distro? (I thought it sounded ideal!)
2. If I had backed up my docs is it a straight forward click n go gui install? - disposing of linpus :)?
3. I assume installing stuff like VLC etc is a doddle and done in a similar way to linpus? - some kind of package manager where you add/remove bits etc?

Cheers :D

When you start the installation and get to the partitioning stage, select "Edit partitions manually (advanced)" or the like. The partitioner will launch. Select the partition you had Linpus on (will register as Fedora 8), and for the file system, select the same as it was and DO NOT FORMAT!!! Ubuntu will give you a warning but will still allow you to continue. Create your user, and after that, the installation will prompt you with checkboxes to migrate documents and settings from existing user accounts (such as the one Linpus created). Check the boxes, and then select "Next". Ubuntu will now install and, on top of that, migrate your docs and settings over to the new installation.

Thanks Kenny. Is the over the top approach favoured over the wipe and install approach then (as I would do in Windows). Does this take up more disk space or leave traces of Linpus? - With an 8GB SSD it's installed on I'm keen not to have wasted space!

Cheers,
Rob.

The only thing this migrates is your home folder, not anything else on the HDD, which means that you won't have any traces of Linpus. And believe me: I also have an 8GB SSD (it's an AOA110-1545) and I have used this approach before. No wasted space whatsoever.

Blinding, thanks for clarifying that mate. I'll give this a go tomorrow afternoon :) - I liked the live CD, so it should be all good.

Sadly I seem to be screwed atm :(

I downloaded and burnt a cd, booted and began to install. I then chose the advanced partition option, there were two there, one swap and one main one. I chose this one then clicked change - set the file system to EXT2 - as it is atm, DIDN'T tick format, then choose mount as '/' which I understand to be root? (without the quotes). I plodded through the screens and ticked the option to carry through the home directory. This plods on for a while then I receive this error:

The release notes state this:
I tried what it suggests, however, the error I get doesn't occur on boot but after its gone on for a bit.

I tried downloading the iso again and burning to a cd again - this also didn't make any difference. I created a memory stick with it on too, it refused to even boot this.

If I try to boot now it loads to the Acer Aspire One blue background (no icons) then one of the green light just blinks on and off.

Bit of help anyone?! - The netbook's pretty useless atm!

I have better luck with Live USBs than live CDs, and on top of that Live USBs boot and install faster. If you have a USB thumb drive, use it.

Here's how to install to a USB thumb drive:

Boot the UNR CD. When the desktop loads, press Alt+F2 and type 'usb-creator-gtk'. The USB Startup Disk Creator will launch. You don't need an .ISO image because USB Creator automatically uses the CD that your computer booted from. Insert a USB flash drive into your USB port at this time, select the size of your persistence file, and then click "Make startup disk". The contents of the Live CD will then be written to the USB flash drive and Syslinux will be installed to the USB flash drive to make it bootable.

How do I know the size of the persistance file?

Cheers :)

Edit: I see, basically a writeable area, I stuck with the default of 128mn... we shall see

Not going well. The first thumbdrive I tried the netbook didn't pick it up on boot :(

I next tried a 500gb hdd, it did find this but it wouldn't allow me to install on it, even after erasing it.

Lastly I had another usb pen drive I managed to find. This did get detected at boot.

It began to install and all was good, it gets to about 47% on copying files. Then suddenly it stops, it goes to a black screen with a cursor for a split second, then to a blank screen just with the purpley ubuntu background. At this point it looks to not be doing much. The pen drive has a light on it indicating access, at first it blinks a couple of times then nothing.

The first time this occured I left it for about 5 mins at that stage. Then rebooted, it still tried to boot into Linpus and failed, still blinking :(

I tried again, the same thing happened. I waited about 20mins, still the same.

In terms of the advanced section where I choose the partition, file system, mount as / etc why should I do that over the wipe and install method, which is the default when you boot up? - Would it likely make any difference?

Progress! - In desperation I decided to opt for the install over the top, wiping everything approach. This worked! - Result!- I'd already backed up the (very small number of) files I needed so it was all good.

Back to my original problem though! - When I put my 16gb SD card in the storage expansion slot and try to delete one of the videos I'm told it's read only. I try to change the permissions - I get told it's a read only filesystem!

Hi

This is probably a silly question but I have to ask it, is there a write protect switch on the SD card?
I just tried my SD card and with the protect switch on I get the following message when I try to change the permissions on a file

chmod: changing permissions of `test2': Read-only file system

Martin

There is a lock on it but it was in the unlocked position. I have no idea what was wrong with it, basically I attached a usb hdd and copied across the things I did want from the 16GB SD card then I tried to format it. This didn't seem to work properly, so in less than standard way I put it in to my camera! - And formatted it there. The netbook picked up the card just fine after that, I can read:write to it.

I'm much happier with Ubuntu on it, it's already far superior. I fear my netbook is knackered though, UNR helpfully told me the battery can only be charged 27.2% so is either damaged or old :( Great!

Osaddict glad you're sorted.

You're right about UNR being far superior to Linpus, as are many other distros. Feel free to change to another if you become annoyed with some aspect of Ubuntu, thats the joy of linux.

You should be able to find a new battery easily on the web, just google for Acer Aspire battery, they don't last long, my last laptop batteries only lasted a couple of years.

Martin