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[Keith]

You are in Root alright.  (Elevated Privileges)

I notice that under "Devices" in the left-hand column the underlined item is "Filesystem".  Not sure how your file manager works, but I would have expected "PHILIPS" to be underlined if we are trying to look at your USB stick.  Although the fact that the files are locked is still a problem.

Would you click on "PHILIPS" and post the picture as before?  By the way - thanks for reducing the size of your picture. 

[19goalie50nxQ]

Keith.
Thanks for staying with me on this here is screenshot of result of clicking on "PHILIPS" :-
Goalie

[Keith]

Excellent.   

Are all the files shown here Read-only?

[Edit] Ah, they are folders not files.  Can you open any of the folders?  and having opened one can you open any files?

[19goalie50nxQ]

Yes they are.

[Keith]

OK.  So select a folder (tell me which one), and try the trick you tried before:

. Right-click on the folder
. select Properties
. select Permissions
. try to change your permission to Read & write (or it might be "Create & delete files")

[19goalie50nxQ]

Sorry Keith missed the second sentence of your reply, the list on the PHILIPS usb are all folders and the sceeenshots show the files inside them.

[19goalie50nxQ]

Tried various times and still can't change to Read & Write.

When I go into File Manager on the desktop I can change the files to Read & Write but as I close it and re-open they have gone back to Read Only.

[19goalie50nxQ]

Keith.

I've breen considering to upgrade to Mint 20.1 by installing from dvd and eliminating 19.3 would this solve the problem.

Goalie

[Keith]

Not if you still need to get the files of your USB stick. 
BY the way:  Are the USB stick files just backups or are they unique?

When I go into File Manager on the desktop I can change the files to Read & Write but as I close it and re-open they have gone back to Read Only.
I'll have a think.

[Keith]

When I go into File Manager on the desktop I can change the files to Read & Write but as I close it and re-open they have gone back to Read Only.
Are you talking here about the USB folders in your post 61?  Or are you talking about going back to the Desktop folder?

[19goalie50nxQ]

The screenshot in Reply 61 shows all the folders on the PHILIPS usb stick. The other screen shot showed the files within the folders in the 1. Mint- HOME 19.3 folder.

So the PHILIPS folder the first folder is 1. Mint- HOME 19.3 folder and in this folder is folder 191 Living Costs which the individual files are in the earlier screenshot.

Hope this makes sense.

[Keith]

Understood.

If you drill down into the directories (folders) till you reach individual files (eg .doc .xls) can you read them?  After all; "Read only" should mean that you can read them.  Or have we done this?

[19goalie50nxQ]

Sorry for delay just been for a shower. I Have drilled down into the files and can open as 'read only' obviously I can't modify them.

[Keith]

Ah!  I am guessing that this USB stick is a backup of your Windows system that you want to transfer to your Mint system - yes? 

I suggest that you copy an example file to, say, your Mint Desktop and see if you can open it there.  Are you happy with copying files? 

[19goalie50nxQ]

It is a backup of my Mint system in case I mess things up when I eventually install Mint 20.1.

I've already copied example files as you suggest into Mint Desktop and can open them and modify them does this help. Attached screenshot shows the permissions of the example file mentioned. Can't understand why I can open and modify when the permissions are None in the Group Access panels.