Permissions Troubles

Darth Cupcake · 05-28-2007, 01:39 PM

When I try to save to my Desktop or move anything around on it, it says permission is denied. When I try to cd to it, it says the same thing. Now, all my desktop icons have disappeared. I ran chown to me for my desktop and it says that I am the owner but it still won't work. I noticed that when I go to the Desktop properties it says Contents: unreadable. I don't know if this has anything to do with it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

bsdunix · 05-28-2007, 02:33 PM

Not knowing exactly where your Desktop is (usually it's located in your $HOME directory) or what's in it, I suggest you do this:

Code:

$ cd $HOME
$ chmod 700 Desktop
$ cd Desktop
$ chmod 644 file1
replace file1 for whatever is a filename

This will set the permissions so you, the owner, will be able to cd (change directory) into Desktop directory.
The permissions on the file(s) will be set to write/read for the owner, read for group members, and read for all other. If you don't like 644 for permissions you can make it whatever you like.

http://www.linuxhelp.net/newbies/#perms

zhangmaike · 05-28-2007, 02:33 PM

Could you post the output of:

Code:

ls -ld ~/Desktop

Darth Cupcake · 05-28-2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zhangmaike

Could you post the output of:

Code:

ls -ld ~/Desktop

d--------- 3 brandon root 4096 2007-05-25 19:08 /home/brandon/Desktop

Darth Cupcake · 05-28-2007, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsdunix

Not knowing exactly where your Desktop is (usually it's located in your $HOME directory) or what's in it, I suggest you do this:

Code:

$ cd $HOME
$ chmod 700 Desktop
$ cd Desktop
$ chmod 644 file1
replace file1 for whatever is a filename

This will set the permissions so you, the owner, will be able to cd (change directory) into Desktop directory.
The permissions on the file(s) will be set to write/read for the owner, read for group members, and read for all other. If you don't like 644 for permissions you can make it whatever you like.

http://www.linuxhelp.net/newbies/#perms

That did it! Thanks a lot!

fragos · 05-28-2007, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Cupcake

d--------- 3 brandon root 4096 2007-05-25 19:08 /home/brandon/Desktop

You've also managed to change group to root. There should be a group brandon which was created during install. You can access the way its been changed but both owner and group should be set to brandon. My advice, learn Linux with the GUI. Make all changes with the GUI and start to learn the command line by viewing and listing. Save command line changes for the future. Don't ever use a command line statement offered on a forum until you are comfortable that you understand what it does.