read-only file system error when editing a config file

smallfrowne · 02-19-2008, 12:59 PM

I recently installed DSL on an old laptop.. i need to change the file congfig.opts in the /etc/pcmcia dir but when i try to save it gives me an error along the lines of "error: read only file system".

Ive checked the access rights if thats the correct term, and im doing it as root.

Code:

ls -l config.opts 
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 31 Feb..

Im a massive linux noob so it could be something easy i dunno!

reddazz · 02-19-2008, 01:07 PM

Hi and welcome to LQ. Were you root when you tried to edit that file because from the output above, the file is owned by root.

Samotnik · 02-19-2008, 01:09 PM

Well.
On read only filesystem even root can't write a file. It's becouse it's named read only.
You should remount it with mount -o remount,rw <device>

reddazz · 02-19-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samotnik

Well.
On read only filesystem even root can't write a file. It's becouse it's named read only.
You should remount it with mount -o remount,rw <device>

Oops I completely missed that part. Thanks for the correction.

smallfrowne · 02-19-2008, 03:00 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome

Quote:

mount -o remount,rw <device>

- what exactly is the <device> im meant to remount? ive tried a few things but just get errors and im not entirely sure what mounting does so im just guessing really. Tried mount -o remount,rw /etc/pcmcia but got "cant find /etc/pcmcia in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab"

smallfrowne · 02-19-2008, 06:06 PM

Ah i fixed it, i had installed it all wrong. Never-the-less, editing the file didnt do much good so i may post another regarding the network pcmcia card in question. Thanks for the help