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[19goalie50nxQ]

Keith I'm sorry I keep doing silly mistakes. What has happened now is the padlock icons have disappeared and I have to open up each individual folder and file to check. Its the 'doc' and 'xls' files that are opening as 'read only' so its going to be a long job.

I don't fully understand your last message and I'm worried about the amount of your time I'm taking up so is there another way we could use?

Goalie

[Keith]

Don't worry, Goalie. 

Well, that's good that your padlocks have gone! And at least you can read your files.  Progress!

Your list of directories (folders) didn't show any xls or doc files so you are clearly going into one of your folders for them.  I presume you are using your file manager to do this.  So let's use the file manager - even though you can't copy/post any results. 
1. In your file manager, select one of your locked files
2. right-click on it
3. select Properties
4. in the box that appears there should be some tabs across the top - select "Permissions".
You should see something like my attachment.

If all is OK so far, check that the owner (you!) has read & write access and report back.
If you get stuck anywhere come back here.

Keith

[19goalie50nxQ]

Keith.

I've opened the 'locked' files and the permissions are as per your attachment except of course it has my name not yours.

Goalie

[Keith]

So can you open and modify the files that were locked before?

[19goalie50nxQ]

Keith

Sorry for delay thought I'd better re-check all files formats within the main folders and find that they all open in 'read only' format.

Goalie

[Keith]

If you look at the file permissions window for a file again you should see at the right end of the "Access" box a small down-pointing arrow. 
Click on that arrow and in the window that opens, choose "Read and write".
Then click "Close" at bottom right. 
Now open and try to modify the file.

Keith

[19goalie50nxQ]

Tried this no success command rejected see attachment.
Goalie   

[Keith]

I thought as much, but it was worth a try.  We might be able to open the folder as "Root" and change the permissions.  And it's probably easier to do that in the file manager (I wish I had listened to Wishbone!)

First of all I need to know which folder that file is in.  Is it one of these:

drwxr-xr-x 38 kevin kevin 32768 Jan  1 12:43 '1 - Mint 19.3 HOME folder. 30 Dec 2020'
d???  ? ?     ?         ?            ? '2 - MINT 19.3  HOME FOLDER - Jan 18th 2021'
drwxr-xr-x 11 kevin kevin 32768 Jan  7 16:43 '3 - SECURITY CODES March 2015 to -----[334kb]'
drwxr-xr-x  2 kevin kevin 32768 Apr 26  2019 'ANDREWS VIDEOS [1.5GB]'
drwxr-xr-x  2 kevin kevin 32768 Dec 30 10:37  Downloads
drwxr-xr-x  2 kevin kevin 32768 Jan  1 12:44 'FIREFOX BOOKMARKS- Oct 2020'
drwxr-xr-x 23 kevin kevin 32768 Jan  1 12:56 'Laptop HOME FOLDER -Oct  2020'
drwxr-xr-x  6 kevin kevin 32768 Jul 22  2018 'LINUX MINT !8 SONJA SETTINGS 22 July 2018'
drwxr-xr-x  2 kevin kevin 32768 Apr 26  2019 'Lola, Billy & Ben-ED- 27 Oct-Nov 1.2010 [1.7GB]'
drwxr-xr-x  2 kevin kevin 32768 Jul 22  2017 'Manchester May 2017 [87mb]'
drwxr-xr-x  6 kevin kevin 32768 Sep  1  2019 'Peru Holiday Trip PHOTOS  & VIDEOS-March-April 2018 (14.7GB)'
drwxr-xr-x  2 kevin kevin 32768 Jan 18  2020 'System Volume Information'

If so please tell me which one. 

[19goalie50nxQ]

Keith do you mind if I break off to have tea.

In the meantime I'm not sure what you mean by :-  We might be able to open the folder as "Root" and change the permissions.  And it's probably easier to do that in the file manager (I wish I had listened to Wishbone!)
First of all I need to know which folder that file is in.  Is it one of these:

Are you asking where Root is or where file manager is ? The folders shown are all on the USB,  the file manager (which I think is the HOME folder on my desktop) if it isnt' could you tell me where it is. I backup my HOME folder on USB for when I consider upgrading MINT just in case I delete folders by mistake. etc.  I'll be back around 7ish.

Goalie
P.S. I bet you wish you hadn't got involved with me on this.

[wishbone]

Keith do you mind if I break off to have tea.

In the meantime I'm not sure what you mean by :-  We might be able to open the folder as "Root" and change the permissions.  And it's probably easier to do that in the file manager (I wish I had listened to Wishbone!)
First of all I need to know which folder that file is in.  Is it one of these:

Are you asking where Root is or where file manager is ? The folders shown are all on the USB,  the file manager (which I think is the HOME folder on my desktop) if it isnt' could you tell me where it is. I backup my HOME folder on USB for when I consider upgrading MINT just in case I delete folders by mistake. etc.  I'll be back around 7ish.

Goalie
P.S. I bet you wish you hadn't got involved with me on this.

Hi Goalie,

The file manager in my system is nemo which I think is Mint`s as well.

Code Select Expand

https://imgur.com/a/iQ3ENnR

If you right click on the folder there should be the option to "open as root" select that, you will be required to input your password then the root window will open and you should be able to select the file you need.

I should say that it`s not guaranteed to work, but it`s worth a try.

Tony

[19goalie50nxQ]

Hi Tony.

Thanks for trying to help, I've got the HOME(file manager) opened as Root and got to see the files. What do I do next?

Goalie

[Keith]

If Tony doesn't mind me interrupting.....

1. Look for a file that you know is Read-only.
2. Right-click on it.
3. Select "Properties".
4. In the window that appears, select the "Permissions" tab.
5. Look at the box opposite "Access" (just your access): Does it say "Read only"?
6. If so, then click on that box and select "Read and write".
7. Click "Close".
8. Check that you can write to (modify) the file.

Let us know how it went.
Keith

[19goalie50nxQ]

Hi Keith.

I've done as your instructions but when I tried to change from 'read only' to 'read & write' the dialogue box appears as per my message "Reply #51 Yesterday at 04:19.57p.m stopping the change. So obviously wasn't able to write or modify the chosen file.

How do I change back from Root to normal in the file manager if we have to try something else.

Goalie.

[Keith]

....and this was after you had opened as Root the folder containing the file?

[19goalie50nxQ]

Hi Keith.
I've got confused and may have done something badly wrong. I got to position as shown on attachment but can't remember exactly what commands I used to get there. However no matter which of the files I try to change to 'read & write' they get blocked.

Now I'm not sure how to get back to how it was before I got to Root if indeed I have in fact got to the Root.  If you can get me back to the normal setting for file manager I'd appreciate that.

I'm getting more confused and its not fair on you so maybe we call it a day

Goalie.