... the dreaded Command Line, [worked like a Champ]

[Timberbeast]

When I switched from Olivia-mate to Petra-mate, I used the Backup tool to save a bunch of files. When it came to replace those files in their rightful home, it seems that that big bully, root, stole a bunch of them from me. Now, I have been studying about chown and chmod, but don't quite have my head wrapped around them yet. Here's what I've got.

[img]/home/larry
larry@oldDell ~ $ ls -l
total 52
drwx------ 2 root root 4096 Aug 3 17:19 ArtWork
drwxr-xr-x 85 larry larry 4096 Dec 5 05:52 Calibre Library
drwx------ 33 root root 4096 Dec 2 07:24 Computer_Library
drwxr-xr-x 2 larry larry 4096 Dec 4 12:29 Desktop
drwxr-xr-x 2 larry larry 4096 Dec 3 09:34 Documents
drwxr-xr-x 51 larry larry 4096 Dec 5 09:56 Downloads
drwx------ 101 root root 4096 Nov 29 20:50 Fiction_Library
drwx------ 11 root root 4096 Nov 29 21:24 History_Library
drwxr-xr-x 2 larry larry 4096 Dec 3 09:34 Music
drwxr-xr-x 2 larry larry 4096 Dec 3 09:34 Pictures
drwxr-xr-x 2 larry larry 4096 Dec 3 09:34 Public
drwxr-xr-x 2 larry larry 4096 Dec 3 09:34 Templates
drwxr-xr-x 2 larry larry 4096 Dec 3 09:34 Videos
larry@oldDell ~ $ umask
0022[/img]

As you can see I was looking at those files very diligently, but I could see that I would need a little help to keep trashing these files. As you can also see that there are a bunch of nested files, so I would like to use the -R (recursive) argument to steal those files back with one whack, if I could. Those are the only copies of those files I have. It wouldn't be the end of the world if I lose them, but I would sure love to have them back if I could. Any of you gurus got a minute? I sure would appreciate it.

Thanks
larry

[WharfRat]

Larry,

I'm guessing that you're trying to reclaim the folders that are now owned by root e.g., Fiction_Library and History_Library

If that's the case then you can chown all of /home/larry which will give the ownership to you.

Code: Select all

sudo chown -R larry:larry /home/larry

Good luck

[Timberbeast]

Thank you Wharf Rat! Yup, that syntax was I was needing. I need to save that the old fashioned way, pen and paper, so I don't lose it. Now I can beat that bully, Root. Look out, Root. Here I come. Yea Hah...........

Thanks again Wharf Rat,
larry

[ericramos1990]

WharfRat wipes problems in seconds.

[Timberbeast]

Sweet, got it. Now I can study on those commands some more. Root is still whimpering a little. Take THAT!

Thanks again, Wharf Rat,
larry

[Timberbeast]

Don't take him long, does it.

larry

[NuxNubkins]

How large are those library directories? You could always use a cloud solution like Dropbox. An ex girlfriend pointed me to it around a year ago and I've used it ever since. It's great for synching up my library of programming references across multiple devices so I don't even have to think about it.

[Timberbeast]

Those files aren't huge. About 1.2 gig. I'll check Dropbox out. I like the synching feature.

larry