need to chmod lots o files, without logging in a root
 

Recently, I upgraded my Mepix 2.6.7 distro of linux, and as most uprading does it takes away root login access
having already fought, and lost, the battle to return root to the login menu

Can someone tell me of a way to chmod a folder and have it chmod all the subfolder and files as well, so I won't have to chmod 1,300+ files individually

Or perhaps a way to read files with - r w - - - - - - - permissions
or change the ownership of the folder or something

any help with this would be appriciated

chmod -R

..but you need to be root if you are not the owner.

...and be very careful with doing recursive commands as root. Type slowly :)

.Load up a copy of knoppix. You then can get root access to these files and change them as you need to

Thanks for the help

I wasn't exactly sure what the -R would do, so I stayed away from it
Also, I never thought of using a live CD to gain root access

Thanks again

I don't know if this will work, but after using a live cd and mounting your root patition, you may do a:
chroot /dev/<your actual linux partition>
passwd
if you forgot the root password