[Solved] Trouble Moving Files to USB External

[dobbs]

Prior to installing PCLinuxOS 2010 final I need to clean up my HD which has some multimedia files I wish to transfer to a usb external HD (format ext.3). I plugged in external and it is recognized (and mounted). So I began to look around for some files to transfer, OK that was easy , found a bunch. So I choose several files via krusader (tried same in dolphin), and pressed F6 to move files.
Got message that I lacked permission to move files to external.
I normally use a thumb drive to transfer stuff and there is never an issue with this. Regular user is fine. I use the external so infrequently I can’t remember if I used root or normal user status to transfer the files last time I did this. I’ve only done this once or twice. Is it normal behavior to need root status to do a procedure as simple as copy or move files to usb external HD?
This probably sounds like a dumb question, but it’s a real one.
I searched forums but found nothing that directly answers this question. I’m using 2009  KDE 4.3.

[menotu]

This probably sounds like a dumb question, but it’s a real one.
I searched forums but found nothing that directly answers this question. I’m using 2009  KDE 4.3.

Not a dumb question at all!

As you said, its most likely a permission issue.

I suggest you open Konqueror - Super User Mode (apply your password) and you should then be able to move the files.

Post back if that fails.

[Old-Polack]

Prior to installing PCLinuxOS 2010 final I need to clean up my HD which has some multimedia files I wish to transfer to a usb external HD (format ext.3). I plugged in external and it is recognized (and mounted). So I began to look around for some files to transfer, OK that was easy , found a bunch. So I choose several files via krusader (tried same in dolphin), and pressed F6 to move files.
Got message that I lacked permission to move files to external.
I normally use a thumb drive to transfer stuff and there is never an issue with this. Regular user is fine. I use the external so infrequently I can’t remember if I used root or normal user status to transfer the files last time I did this. I’ve only done this once or twice. Is it normal behavior to need root status to do a procedure as simple as copy or move files to usb external HD?
This probably sounds like a dumb question, but it’s a real one.
I searched forums but found nothing that directly answers this question. I’m using 2009  KDE 4.3.

You don't need root status to move/copy files, and should not do that, as root will then own the files making them off limits to your normal user. You do need root permissions to give your normal user write permission on that partition. I solve the problem by simply giving ownership of the partition to my normal user. With the partition mounted, as root;

[root@localhost ~]# chown -R <user>:<user> /<mount point directory>       <Enter>

Replace <user> with your normal user identity, and <mount point directory> with the directory from which you can view the partitions files. If the directory is nested, use the full path; ie I have a partition mounted on /home/polack/Documents so that is the path I'd use.

[Old-Polack]

This probably sounds like a dumb question, but it’s a real one.
I searched forums but found nothing that directly answers this question. I’m using 2009  KDE 4.3.

Not a dumb question at all!

As you said, its most likely a permission issue.

I suggest you open Konqueror - Super User Mode (apply your password) and you should then be able to move the files.

Post back if that fails.

Bad idea if the files in question belong to the normal user. See post above.

[menotu]

Well, that's me told then!! 

[Old-Polack]

Well, that's me told then!! 

Now, the question is, will it be remembered? 

Lots of things work, in the short term, but cause problems later. The trick is to find solutions that both, work now, and don't cause other problems later. With a basically one user machine, having that user own the partition solves all permission problems for that user. If another user is involved, the primary normal user can now give permissions of his choosing to the secondary user, without needing root permissions.

[dobbs]

Thanks old-polack,

[root@localhost ~]# chown -R <user>:<user> /<mount point directory>

This worked like a charm. Excellent, I knew the short term way, just using file manager in super user mode. It's quick but sometimes problems arise later on. This way regular user has control, that is what I wanted...