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Various Ubuntu Fixes Found


05/03/08 Ubuntu 8.04
'Hardy Heron'		 Problem: Windows XP read-only files were transfered over the LAN to the Ubuntu laptop. Later the files were sent to the trash. When emptying the trash, the dialog complains that permissions were not correct to delete the trash.

Explanation: permissions are incompatible between Windows and Ubuntu. Deleting must be done manually.

Fix: (Note: I'm not using the recursive -R option of chmod.)
  1. Start Terminal and login as a super user (su then give your password, etc)
  2. Navigate to the trash folder called 'files': cd ~/.local/share/Trash/files
  3. List the contents to see what's there: ls -l
  4. Change permissions to folders and files: chmod 600 *
  5. For each folder such as 'Sample' cd Sample
  6. Issue the command to change file permissions, remove files, move back up one folder: chmod 600 *; rm *; ch .. (Remove files before removing their folder.)
  7. Then use the command to remove the folder: rmdir Sample
  8. Continue to remove folders and files found until done.
  9. Next navigated to the trash folder called 'info': cd ~/.local/share/Trash/info
  10. List the contents to see what's there: ls -l
  11. Change permissions as necessary and delete the path files found. (empty the info folder)
  12. You're done when the folders 'file' and 'info' are empty. >>Don't delete these two folders.<< (Can take a lot of typing!!)
  13. To exit from root and again from user in Terminal type: exit twice. The trash should be empty at this point.
Recommendation Work-around:
Don't delete Windows XP folders or files on the Ubuntu computer. Instead, insert a USB memory key and with right-mousing, cut from the Ubuntu computer and paste to the key. Right-mouse and unmount the key to remove it, then insert the key in a Windows computer and delete the folders and files that way. Whew!

Note to the Ubuntu community: I'm not a MOTU, (just a newbie) so I won't be posting this to the forum discussion threads on this problem. I still have a lot to learn.


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David Mawdsley's E-mail: dm@madmod.com



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