ok so this isn't to secure something, rather it is to break it.

I closed an account at one of my computers computing labs. I took all of the files (~50) and backed them up on my friends account. most of them are just code files. The problem is that I didn't open the files up. The whole folder has it's permissions set to be r/w/e by owner only and exec by others (711). Well that owner doesn't exist anymore. I would like to recover access to these files. I think this means that I will somehow have to change the permissions to the file from a different user. any ideas?


i know that this is trying to bypass the security features and i have inquired with the dept. if i could restore part or whole of the account for just a little while. they will be getting back to me (i don't think the woman understood what i was talking about, but we'll see). i am not going to use this info except to recover my files. and any info extra info to help me understand permissions would be helpful too. Thanks!

::ryan

Hi and welcome to LQ Forums

Ask the root to change the file ownership and/or the permissions

Only root can do that for files that do not belong to u any more.

The admins at the department will be able to run chown or chmod so that your friends account owns them. They'll just need to know which home directory the files are currently in. Actually, they can find them without you telling them, but they'll probably want to hear it from you as confirmation.

Using chown can make your friends account the owner so that his account has the '7' (rwx) permission on the files. Using chmod can change the permissions from 711 to 716, for example so that your friend can read and delete the files. The first way is preferable because the last number is the permission that everyone has on the file.

I open someone's post, go away to make a coffee and by the time I get back it's already replied to