Changing permissions on script

i wanted to have a look at a script i downloaded in the script editor - when i try to do this it says "unable to read the file because the script is not editable (it was saved as run only)" In terminal it is listed as -rw-r--r--@ 1 [then my username twice] ( i usually run as a standard user but have an separate admin account) - how do I change this so I can look at the file ?

those permissions are fine and are not the issue. the issue is that as that error message said, the script was saved as "run only". when somebody does that only the compiled binary code is saved and the original apple script code is stripped off.
there is no way to reverse engineer the original apple script from the binary code.
when you get an app like that you can only run it but not open it in script editor. that's what you downloaded from internet.

Similar Messages

Help changing permissions using a shell script

Hey,
Here's the situation. We have 18 Macs, they're all cloned from a master image and have 2 local accounts - Administrator and Student.
There are some files on the machines that the student account does not have permission to access, but it's critical that they do. I've written a shell script to change the files so that everyone has permission to read, write and execute them:
#! /bin/bash
clear
sudo chmod ugo+rwx /Library/Audio/Plug-ins/Components/FM8.component
sudo chmod ugo+rwx /Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST/FM8.vst
sudo chmod ugo+rwx /Library/Audio/Plug-ins/VST/FM8\ FX.vst
sudo chmod ugo+rwx /Library/Application\ Support/Digidesign/Plug-ins/FM8.dpm
In theory, this means I can just run the script, type the admin password in once and its done (as opposed to typing in the password 4 times and navigating to each file individually.)
However, this doesn't quite work as planned.
If I run the script, navigate to the files using the Finder and 'get info' it declares that "Everyone" can "Read & Write". The student account can see the file properly, but the finder just thinks there's nothing there (Size=Zero KB.) Only when I explicitly add the Student account (Add->Student) and set it to "Read & Write" does it start working.
2 questions really - Why does it do this, and how do I make it work?
It was my understanding that if everyone could read, write and execute there wouldn't be a problem, regardless of which account tries to access the file?
Also, if there is a better/easier/faster way of doing the same thing I'm open to suggestions.
Thanks.

Thanks Tony,
Your reply was helpful, I didn't realise you could tie all the paths together and just use one chmod command.
I actually solved the issues myself this morning (fresh head on after a good nights sleep!)
It turns out the 'files' I'm trying to modify aren't strictly files at all, they're packages. Using just chmod changes permissions for the top of the package only (hence why I could see the files but they said Zero KB.)
adding -R to the chmod modified permissions to everything inside the package as well, which has resolved the issue.
Thanks for the help though!

Change permissions of "Mailbox Rights" using Script.

I'm using the script located at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310866 to change the permissions of "Mailbox Rights" located on the user properties, Exchange Advanced tab.
However, this works by specifying the DN for each mailbox that I want Change.
I need help to create a script, or edit it to modify the permissions of multiple users in the field since the script from Microsoft so I may change by a user at a time in the line of Script:
sUserADsPath = "LDAP: / / ServerName / cn = User1, CN = Users, DC = DomainName, DC = com"
It is possible to insert in the variable "sUserADsPath" multiple paths DN?
or is there another way to do this?
I am using Exchange 2003.
Maybe a Loop that reads a .csv file of something like that.
Thank you.

Hello mjolinor,
Thanks for you reply. I had create a .csv file, and change my .vbs script including your code:
$userlist = import-csv c:\somedir\users.csv
$userlist | foreach-object {
sUserADsPath = "LDAP: / / ServerName / cn = $($_.username), CN = Users, DC = DomainName, DC = com"
Buy after this when I run code, it give me error of Invalid Character, the first character of the line "$userlist = import-csv c:\somedir\users.csv", I believe that means "$" was not reconized by script.vbs
Should I run this code on Power Shell?
Thanks for All

How do you rename, or change permissions on many files?

**Note** there are SUDO commands here that can potentially wreck up your system. If you have questions about this stuff, post in the forum or ask someone verbally to help. The sudo command can really cause problems if you're not entirely sure what you're doing.
I had an issue a while ago where I had to rename about 400 pictures all in the same folder. They were all named by a students PEN #. I needed an incremental number starting at 001.jpg. I was hoping to figure out a script either in apple script or in terminal that would do the job. I called a friend of mine at another school with my problem (he's a windows guy) and he had this great idea.
First of all, using terminal list all the files.
The command is simply "ls" without the quotes.
Select all the files that the ls command outputs and copy it. (command c)
Next, open up excel or numbers or any spreadsheet program, select cell B1 and paste the list of files in question.
When I type SPACE below, I mean hit the space bar.
Now comes the fun part.
In cell A1 type mv SPACE
In Cell C1 type SPACE
In Cell D1 type 001
In Cell E1 type .jpg
In Cell F1 type the following.
Fill down each of the columns to the bottom of the list of file names.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
mv
pennumber1.jpg
001
.jpg
=CONCATENATE(A1..E1)
mv
pennumber2.jpg
002
.jpg
=CONCATENATE(A2..E2)
mv
pennumber3.jpg
003
.jpg
=CONCATENATE(A3..E3)
mv
pennumber4.jpg
004
.jpg
=CONCATENATE(A4..E4)
mv
pennumber5.jpg
005
.jpg
=CONCATENATE(A5..E5)
Now Select all of column F and copy it.
Open up terminal and navigate to the folder that's containing all your files to be renamed.
Hit paste and press enter.
This will paste in the contents of each cell in the f column followed by an enter.
Voila!
Now, if you wanted to change ownership of a set of folders, you could use the same process.
I'm assuming that the folder's that your changing are home folders here. In other words, the home folder name should be the same as the shortname of your user.
It might look something like this:
Navigate to the folder that conains your user folders. **CAUTION ----SUDO AHEAD*** This command can BREAK YOUR COMPUTER if you're not careful.
Type: sudo -s
type your password.
Copy the list of Folders from terminal.
Paste them into some column way on the right in excel or numbers or whatever. Maybe column F or something.
Now, in A1 type chmod SPACE        and fill it down all the way.
In B1 type -R SPACE         and fill it down all the way
In C1 type =F1 SPACE       and fill it down all the way
In D1 type =F1       and fill it down all the way
In E1 type =CONCATENATE(A1..D1)        and fill it down all the way
The spreadsheet might look like this:
A
B
C
D
E
F
chmod
-R
=F1
=F1
=CONCATENATE(A1..D1)
thor
chmod
-R
=F2
=F2
=CONCATENATE(A2..D2)
incrediblehulk
Again, just copy and paste column E into terminal and poof! It should work!
*Note, it might be a good idea to run a trial on a folder that's not important to you before you start. These commands you're running can wreck things up pretty good. So ensure things are set up properly before hand!
HTH
-Graham

In the Finder's Get Info window, under permissions, you can click the little gear icon and set the "Apply to encoded items" flag. Then when you change permissions, it will apply to everything underneath the selected folder.

Take ownership of a registry key, and change permissions

Hello,
I am writing a powershell script to configure a W2008-R2 Server. In one of the steps, I need to take ownership of an existing registry key, and then give full control permissions to the administrators.
I have done this:
$acl = Get-Acl $key
$me = [System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]"$env:userdomain\$env:username"
$acl.SetOwner($me)
$person = [System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]"Administrators"
$access = [System.Security.AccessControl.RegistryRights]"FullControl"
$inheritance = [System.Security.AccessControl.InheritanceFlags]"None"
$propagation = [System.Security.AccessControl.PropagationFlags]"None"
$type = [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlType]"Allow"
$rule = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.RegistryAccessRule($person,$access,$inheritance,$propagation,$type)
$acl.AddAccessRule($rule)
Set-Acl $key $acl
But it fails in "set-acl" command, with the message "Set-Acl : Requested registry access is not allowed."
Any ideas of how to do this? or if it is even possible?
Thank you!

Here is the code to take ownership of a registry key. You first need to set the SeTakeOwnership permission on your process
The enable-privilege function is taken from a posting by Lee Holmes (http://www.leeholmes.com/blog/2010/09/24/adjusting-token-privileges-in-powershell/), but
I've been meaning to get around to tidy it up a bit for my purposes. Perhaps this thread is the motivation I need to do this. I should also note that the PowerShell Community Extensions has cmdlets to work with tokens already.
I also never tested whether you can do the PowerShell native methods of get-acl set-acl if you set the token. I don't have time to play with that now, but if you want to try it and let us know if it works that would be great. The opensubkey method
I'm using I've documented here for changing permissions when you don't have permissions: http://powertoe.wordpress.com/2010/08/28/controlling-registry-acl-permissions-with-powershell/
function enable-privilege {
param(
## The privilege to adjust. This set is taken from
## http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb530716(VS.85).aspx
[ValidateSet(
"SeAssignPrimaryTokenPrivilege", "SeAuditPrivilege", "SeBackupPrivilege",
"SeChangeNotifyPrivilege", "SeCreateGlobalPrivilege", "SeCreatePagefilePrivilege",
"SeCreatePermanentPrivilege", "SeCreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege", "SeCreateTokenPrivilege",
"SeDebugPrivilege", "SeEnableDelegationPrivilege", "SeImpersonatePrivilege", "SeIncreaseBasePriorityPrivilege",
"SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege", "SeIncreaseWorkingSetPrivilege", "SeLoadDriverPrivilege",
"SeLockMemoryPrivilege", "SeMachineAccountPrivilege", "SeManageVolumePrivilege",
"SeProfileSingleProcessPrivilege", "SeRelabelPrivilege", "SeRemoteShutdownPrivilege",
"SeRestorePrivilege", "SeSecurityPrivilege", "SeShutdownPrivilege", "SeSyncAgentPrivilege",
"SeSystemEnvironmentPrivilege", "SeSystemProfilePrivilege", "SeSystemtimePrivilege",
"SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege", "SeTcbPrivilege", "SeTimeZonePrivilege", "SeTrustedCredManAccessPrivilege",
"SeUndockPrivilege", "SeUnsolicitedInputPrivilege")]
$Privilege,
## The process on which to adjust the privilege. Defaults to the current process.
$ProcessId = $pid,
## Switch to disable the privilege, rather than enable it.
[Switch] $Disable
## Taken from P/Invoke.NET with minor adjustments.
$definition = @'
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public class AdjPriv
[DllImport("advapi32.dll", ExactSpelling = true, SetLastError = true)]
internal static extern bool AdjustTokenPrivileges(IntPtr htok, bool disall,
ref TokPriv1Luid newst, int len, IntPtr prev, IntPtr relen);
[DllImport("advapi32.dll", ExactSpelling = true, SetLastError = true)]
internal static extern bool OpenProcessToken(IntPtr h, int acc, ref IntPtr phtok);
[DllImport("advapi32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
internal static extern bool LookupPrivilegeValue(string host, string name, ref long pluid);
[StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential, Pack = 1)]
internal struct TokPriv1Luid
public int Count;
public long Luid;
public int Attr;
internal const int SE_PRIVILEGE_ENABLED = 0x00000002;
internal const int SE_PRIVILEGE_DISABLED = 0x00000000;
internal const int TOKEN_QUERY = 0x00000008;
internal const int TOKEN_ADJUST_PRIVILEGES = 0x00000020;
public static bool EnablePrivilege(long processHandle, string privilege, bool disable)
bool retVal;
TokPriv1Luid tp;
IntPtr hproc = new IntPtr(processHandle);
IntPtr htok = IntPtr.Zero;
retVal = OpenProcessToken(hproc, TOKEN_ADJUST_PRIVILEGES | TOKEN_QUERY, ref htok);
tp.Count = 1;
tp.Luid = 0;
if(disable)
tp.Attr = SE_PRIVILEGE_DISABLED;
else
tp.Attr = SE_PRIVILEGE_ENABLED;
retVal = LookupPrivilegeValue(null, privilege, ref tp.Luid);
retVal = AdjustTokenPrivileges(htok, false, ref tp, 0, IntPtr.Zero, IntPtr.Zero);
return retVal;
$processHandle = (Get-Process -id $ProcessId).Handle
$type = Add-Type $definition -PassThru
$type[0]::EnablePrivilege($processHandle, $Privilege, $Disable)
enable-privilege SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege
$key = [Microsoft.Win32.Registry]::LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\powertoe",[Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKeyPermissionCheck]::ReadWriteSubTree,[System.Security.AccessControl.RegistryRights]::takeownership)
$acl = $key.GetAccessControl()
$me = [System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]"t-alien\tome"
$acl.SetOwner($me)
$key.SetAccessControl($acl)
http://twitter.com/toenuff
write-host ((0..56)|%{if (($_+1)%3 -eq 0){[char][int]("116111101110117102102064103109097105108046099111109"[($_-2)..$_] -join "")}}) -separator ""

Solved - How to take ownership and change permissions for blocked files and folders in Powershell

Hello,
I was trying to take ownership & fix permissions on Home Folder/My Documents structures, I ran into the common problem in PowerShell where Set-Acl & Get-Acl return access denied errors. The error occurs because the Administrators have been removed from
file permissions and do not have ownership of the files,folders/directories. (Assuming all other permissions like SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege have been enabled.
I was not able to find any information about someone successfully using native PS to resolve the issue. As I was able to solve the issues surrounding Get-Acl & Set-Acl, I wanted to share the result for those still looking for an answer.
Question: How do you use only Powershell take ownership and reset permissions for files or folders you do not have permissions or ownership of?
Problem:
Using the default function calls to the object fail for a folder that the administrative account does not have permissions or file ownership. You get the following error for Get-Acl:
PS C:\> Get-Acl -path F:\testpath\locked
Get-Acl : Attempted to perform an unauthorized operation.
+ get-acl <<<< -path F:\testpath\locked
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Get-Acl], UnauthorizedAccessException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : System.UnauthorizedAccessException,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetAclCommand
If you create a new ACL and attempt to apply it using Set-Acl, you get:
PS C:\> Set-Acl -path F:\testpath\locked -AclObject $DirAcl
Set-Acl : Attempted to perform an unauthorized operation.
At line:1 char:8
+ Set-Acl <<<< -path "F:\testpath\locked" -AclObject $DirAcl
+ CategoryInfo : PermissionDenied: (F:\testpath\locked:String) [Set-Acl], UnauthorizedAccessException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : System.UnauthorizedAccessException,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.SetAclCommand
Use of other functions like .GetAccessControl will result in a similar error: "Attempted to perform an unauthorized operation."
How do you replace owner on all subcontainers and objects in Powershell with resorting to external applications like takeown, icacls, Windows Explorer GUI, etc.?
Tony

Hello,
Last, here is the script I used to reset permissions on the "My Documents" tree structure that admins did not have access to:
Example: Powershell script to parse a directory of User-owned "My Document" redirection folders and reset permissions.
#Script to Reset MyDocuments Folder permissions
$domainName = ([ADSI]'').name
Import-Module "PSCX" -ErrorAction Stop
Set-Privilege (new-object Pscx.Interop.TokenPrivilege "SeRestorePrivilege", $true) #Necessary to set Owner Permissions
Set-Privilege (new-object Pscx.Interop.TokenPrivilege "SeBackupPrivilege", $true) #Necessary to bypass Traverse Checking
#Set-Privilege (new-object Pscx.Interop.TokenPrivilege "SeSecurityPrivilege", $true) #Optional if you want to manage auditing (SACL) on the objects
Set-Privilege (new-object Pscx.Interop.TokenPrivilege "SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege", $true) #Necessary to override FilePermissions & take Ownership
$Directorypath = "F:\Userpath" #locked user folders exist under here
$LockedDirs = Get-ChildItem $Directorypath -force #get all of the locked directories.
Foreach ($Locked in $LockedDirs) {
Write-Host "Resetting Permissions for "$Locked.Fullname
#######Take Ownership of the root directory
$blankdirAcl = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.DirectorySecurity
$blankdirAcl.SetOwner([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]'BUILTIN\Administrators')
$Locked.SetAccessControl($blankdirAcl)
###################### Setup & apply correct folder permissions to the root user folder
#Using recommendation from Ned Pyle's Ask Directory Services blog:
#Automatic creation of user folders for home, roaming profile and redirected folders.
$inherit = [system.security.accesscontrol.InheritanceFlags]"ContainerInherit, ObjectInherit"
$propagation = [system.security.accesscontrol.PropagationFlags]"None"
$fullrights = [System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemRights]"FullControl"
$allowrights = [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlType]"Allow"
$DirACL = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.DirectorySecurity
#Administrators: Full Control
$DirACL.AddAccessRule((new-object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule("BUILTIN\Administrators",$fullrights, $inherit, $propagation, "Allow")))
#System: Full Control
$DirACL.AddAccessRule((new-object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule("NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM",$fullrights, $inherit, $propagation, "Allow")))
#Creator Owner: Full Control
$DirACL.AddAccessRule((new-object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule("CREATOR OWNER",$fullrights, $inherit, $propagation, "Allow")))
#Useraccount: Full Control (ideally I would error check the existance of the user account in AD)
#$DirACL.AddAccessRule((new-object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule("$domainName\$Locked.name",$fullrights, $inherit, $propagation, "Allow")))
$DirACL.AddAccessRule((new-object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule("$domainName\$Locked",$fullrights, $inherit, $propagation, "Allow")))
#Remove Inheritance from the root user folder
$DirACL.SetAccessRuleProtection($True, $False) #SetAccessRuleProtection(block inheritance?, copy parent ACLs?)
#Set permissions on User Directory
Set-Acl -aclObject $DirACL -path $Locked.Fullname
Write-Host "commencer" -NoNewLine
##############Restore admin access & then restore file/folder inheritance on all subitems
#create a template ACL with inheritance re-enabled; this will be stamped on each subitem to re-establish the file structure with inherited ACLs only.
#$NewOwner = New-Object System.Security.Principal.NTAccount("$domainName","$Locked.name") #ideally I would error check this.
$NewOwner = New-Object System.Security.Principal.NTAccount("$domainName","$Locked") #ideally I would error check this.
$subFileACL = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSecurity
$subDirACL = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.DirectorySecurity
$subFileACL.SetOwner($NewOwner)
$subDirACL.SetOwner($NewOwner)
######## Enable inheritance ($False) and not copy of parent ACLs ($False)
$subFileACL.SetAccessRuleProtection($False, $False) #SetAccessRuleProtection(block inheritance?, copy parent ACLs?)
$subDirACL.SetAccessRuleProtection($False, $False) #SetAccessRuleProtection(block inheritance?, copy parent ACLs?)
#####loop through subitems
$subdirs = Get-ChildItem -path $Locked.Fullname -force -recurse #force is necessary to get hidden files/folders
foreach ($subitem in $subdirs) {
#take ownership to insure ability to change permissions
#Then set desired ACL
if ($subitem.Attributes -match "Directory") {
# New, blank Directory ACL with only Owner set
$blankdirAcl = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.DirectorySecurity
$blankdirAcl.SetOwner([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]'BUILTIN\Administrators')
#Use SetAccessControl to reset Owner; Set-Acl will not work.
$subitem.SetAccessControl($blankdirAcl)
#At this point, Administrators have the ability to change the directory permissions
Set-Acl -aclObject $subDirACL -path $subitem.Fullname -ErrorAction Stop
} Else {
# New, blank File ACL with only Owner set
$blankfileAcl = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSecurity
$blankfileAcl.SetOwner([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]'BUILTIN\Administrators')
#Use SetAccessControl to reset Owner; Set-Acl will not work.
$subitem.SetAccessControl($blankfileAcl)
#At this point, Administrators have the ability to change the file permissions
Set-Acl -aclObject $subFileACL -path $subitem.Fullname -ErrorAction Stop
Write-Host "." -NoNewline
Write-Host "fin."
Write-Host "Script Complete."
I hope you find this useful.
Thank you,
Tony
Final Thought: There are great non-PS tools like
Set-Acl and takeown which are external to PS & can also do the job wonderfully. It may be much simpler to call those tools than recreate the wheel in pure
code. Feel free to use whatever best suits your time, scope & cost.

How do I change permissions on many files at once?

Hello!
I recently had a large hard drive crash, and, long story short, I got all my data back but now have a different user account on a new hard drive. The permissions on all the files on the computer are fine.
However, I am a recently graduated film student and use an external drive to edit video. When I tried to open up Final Cut Pro and work on a project, I was told that the program couldn't work because I didn't have "write" access to my scratch drives. I changed the permissions on the relevant folders and can now open the application fine, but can't actually edit because ALL the medi files don't give me full read/write access.
I can change them all one at a time, which requires I enter my password for each one, but this would take a few days of work to complete.
My question is: how can I add my user account with read/write permission to many files at once? I've heard this can be done with Terminal, but I'm not sure how.
Please give me step-by-step instructions if you can! I have never used Terminal before! I am not a techie, but I want to be, and I learn quickly!
My computer specs:
15in Macbook Pro, early 2008.
System 10.5.8

In the Finder's Get Info window, under permissions, you can click the little gear icon and set the "Apply to encoded items" flag. Then when you change permissions, it will apply to everything underneath the selected folder.

I Changed permissions for every enclosed folder in my Library (not Home)

I wanted to change permissions on a fiie in my root Library (not Home Library) and clicked apply to enclosed items for the entire Library folder. Once I realized what happened (after the fact) I tried to repair permissions but things aren't working right obviously. I have a backup of the Library on my Time Machine drive that is before the snafu.
Is is possible to restore just this Library folder, and if I restored just this folder using Time Machine would it also restore the permissions as they were before I screwed up.
I'm backing up the altered Library folder to another drive just to be safe if I do need to restore.
Always learning,
Thanks
Message was edited by: Thor Stevens

Thor Stevens wrote:
I wanted to change permissions on a fiie in my root Library (not Home Library) and clicked apply to enclosed items for the entire Library folder. Once I realized what happened (after the fact) I tried to repair permissions but things aren't working right obviously. I have a backup of the Library on my Time Machine drive that is before the snafu.
Is is possible to restore just this Library folder, and if I restored just this folder using Time Machine would it also restore the permissions as they were before I screwed up.
no, that's not possible because many of those items are in use while you are booted normally. you need to do a full system restore from TM from before you did this. from your last post you seem to be doing just that. and in the future NEVER ever use "apply to enclosed items" on ANY system created folders. that applies btw to things like your home folder, the library in your home folder, your desktop folder etc. use it only on folders you made yourself. apart from messing up permissions on system files like those in the root library, many system created folders like your home folder have hidden ACLs and using 'apply to enclosed items" propagates those ACLs to everything inside.
I'm backing up the altered Library folder to another drive just to be safe if I do need to restore.
Always learning,
Thanks
Message was edited by: Thor Stevens

ITunes no longer loads after updating to Windows 8.1. I have tried every corrective step I've found on the web (reinstall, copy files, change permissions, etc.) nothing helps. Has anyone heard if Apple is working on fix?

Itunes does not launch after updating to Windows 8.1. I've tried every suggestion I can find on web (reinstall, copy files from other directories, change permissions, etc.). Nothing works. At best I can get the licensing agreement to show and then nothing. Has anyone heard if a fix is in the works?

Hi 3backpacker3,
It sounds like you are on the right track in troubleshooting this issue. If you are having launch issues, you may find the following article helpful:
iTunes for Windows Vista or Windows 7: Troubleshooting unexpected quits, freezes, or launch issues
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1717
Regards,
- Brenden

After trying to change permissions on my computer so others on my network can access files, my external Hard Drive has a lock on it and I can't access files. I've tried repairing permissions, logging in under another Administrator account, using Terminal

After trying to change permissions on my computer so others on my network can grab files, my external Hard Drive has a lock on it and I can't access files. I've tried repairing permissions, logging in under another Administrator account, using Terminal to fix the problem, downloaded BatChmod but nothing works… Any other suggestions? I have an Imac running OS10.6.8.

There is suddenly a lock icon on my external backup drive!
Custom Permissions

Unable to change permissions on Hard Disk Drives after rolling back OSX Lion to Snow Leopard

Are you able to help me?
I had several problems with permissions and a series of other serious issues after upgrading to Lion, so I did a clean re-install of Snow Leopard 6.4 (from disk), upgraded to 6.8 and still had permissions problems which I have made worse by doing what I thought made sense - giving my administration user access to all hard disks and time machine back-ups. I emphasise "hard disks" because I have an iMac 27" i7 and 250GB Flash Drive provided by Apple where I keep OSX and aplication files. Thus the Flash Drive (FD) becomes the boot disk, not the Hard Drive.
Changing preferences on the Apple HD (not FD) and the Time Machine Backup HD to my user name (with administration privaleges) has had the reverse effect of not giving me access to anything other than my OSX system volume on my 250GB Flash drive! I can only see my files on the hard drives with the root user (which I have used for the first time ever to get that access). But using the root user does NOT allow me to change permissions of either my Time Machine backup disk or the Hard drive on my iMac ! Why oh why??
Googling for solutions suggested using iRepair to change permissions but that gives me a "boing" when I try with no effect - at least a "boing" is more feedback that the Apple Finder's response to my attempt to alter permissions in the "info" window!
Oh! and of course I have unsuccessfuly tried the Disk Utility as well, which does come back with errors - that appear to be "safe to ignore" from Apple Support's website!
I originally posted a slightly different message to this one to https://discussions.apple.com/message/16955471#16955471 because it appeared to have similar issues. It appears as if my problem is unfortunately quite unique!
Godfrey Bridger
Hamilton, New Zealand

So the background to this situation:
1. The user had OS 10.6.8 installed on one volume, while his actual users home folders stored on a second volume, this is fine but can sometimes cause issues during/post upgrade to 10.7
2. The user upgraded to 10.7 and while his home folders were still being accessed, he no longer had permission to change or modify them.
3. The user downgraded to 10.6.4 again which broke the link for his users completely.
4. In an attempt to change the permissions for his information he had the (common) mistake of changing the permissions of his root level of his drive, this did several things, in addition to negatively effecting his OS, it also locked the drive mount points in his (hidden) /Volumes/ folder.
5. the steps taken to help rectify this issue:
A. Open Terminal.
B. TYPE:
chmod -N /
chmod 1775 /
chown root:admin /
C. Reboot computer
D. Open Disk Utility.
E. Repair permissions on the boot volume.
F. Also the following commands were run on her second drive to allow him access to his stuff again:
sudo chflags -R nouchg /path to drive/
chmod -R 775 /path to drive/
chmod -RN /path to drive/
chown -R username:staff /path to drive/
Once the permissions repair is complete the Users can be readded to the System Preferences>Accounts pane and the paths to home directories located in his second drive using the "Advanced Options..." section, but due to the time the permissions repair was going to take this step will be posted tomorrow.
Also each user will require Terminal commands to make the permissions unique for each user: (this must be done PRIOR to the users being added in System Preferences>Accounts.
chmod -N /
chmod 1775 /
chown root:admin /
sudo chflags -R nouchg /path to home folder/
sudo chmod -R 775 /path to home folder/
sudo chmod -RN /path to home folder/
sudo chown -R username:staff /path to home folder/
EE

External Hard Drives Changing Permissions to Read Only

Three of my USB external hard drives have suddenly changed to read only. One of the times I was trying to transfer/back-up the files from one drive that had changed to read only to another external. Suddenly the second drive changed permissions. Then after plugging a third external, that drive changed permissions. They all were working perfectly fine with my computer and I have only been using them on MACS. Any explanations? Could there be something wrong with my USB ports? Is it possible to have a virus of some sort?
Thank you!

In disk utility I had a look. I cannot verify or set permission (greyed out). The data coming back from info. How can I change this??
Name : FUJITSU MHZ2320BH G1 Media
Type : Disk
Partition Map Scheme : Master Boot Record
Disk Identifier : disk2
Media Name : FUJITSU MHZ2320BH G1 Media
Media Type : Generic
Connection Bus : USB
USB Serial Number : 560A48A291F9
Device Tree : /PCI0/EHC1@1D,7/@3:0
Writable : Yes
Ejectable : Yes
Mac OS 9 Drivers Installed : No
Location : External
Total Capacity : 298,1 GB (320.072.933.376 Bytes)
S.M.A.R.T. Status : Not Supported
Disk Number : 2
Partition Number : 0
Name : NieuwVolume
Type : Volume
Disk Identifier : disk2s1
Mount Point : /Volumes/NieuwVolume
File System : Windows NT File System (NTFS)
Connection Bus : USB
Device Tree : /PCI0/EHC1@1D,7/@3:1
Writable : No
Universal Unique Identifier : C7B58C48-D6BC-4078-9DAE-CB125901A4D6
Capacity : 298,1 GB (320.070.288.384 Bytes)
Free Space : 127,1 GB (136.438.530.048 Bytes)
Used : 171,0 GB (183.631.757.312 Bytes)
Number of Files : 85.578
Number of Folders : 0
Owners Enabled : No
Can Turn Owners Off : No
Can Be Formatted : No
Bootable : No
Supports Journaling : No
Journaled : No
Disk Number : 2
Partition Number : 1

HT5654 I have a new computer, Windows 8. My old laptop died and I used to Sync my iPad and iPhone on that device. Now I want to update, the new computer states that I do not have permission. How do i change permissions to this new computer?

I have a new computer, Windows 8. My old laptop died and I used to Sync my iPad and iPhone on that device. Now I want to update, the new desktop computer states that I do not have permission. How do I change permissions to this new computer?

Did you authorize it?

I recently purchased an external hard drive to back up my iMovies. When I try to open the movies on the backup I get a message "you may not have permission to modify that folder" How do I change permissions on the backup?

I recently purchased an external hard drive to back up my iMovies. When I try to open the movies on the backup I get a message "you may not have permission to modify that folder" How do I change permissions on the backup?

Hi
One Must NEVER move or alter any folders named
• iMovie Event's - or -
• iMovie Projects - or - alike
on DESKTOP/FINDER - Ever ! - ONLY Within the iMovie Program ! else all connections are broken and hard to impossibly to mend !
but rather do as described here under
Moving Event's and Project's
Connection - Either connect one Mac in Target mode to the other via FireWire. Or use an external hard disk !
(Target-Mode - Start one Mac e.g. laptop - BUT keep T-key down during full up-start - Now a FW-symbol is jumping around the screen and it will work as an external hard disk when connected to the other Mac)
A. The External Hard Disk - MUST BE - Mac OS Extended (hfs) formatted to work for Video. UNIX/DOS/FAT32/Mac OS Exchange works for most other things but not for Video whatever program is used (iMovie or FinalCut)
B. Should be a FireWire one as USB/USB2 performs badly to me and especially when filling up
C. Do never Move or Alter any folder named
• iMovie Event's - or -
• iMovie Project's
on DeskTop/Finder - as this will result in iMovie losing connections to them and repair can be anything from hard to impossibly
D. Moving and Copying must be done within iMovie application and Events to Events - and - Project's to Project's.
E. Moving Project's to Event's - Do not work for me - I have to export project as a QuickTime movie then Import this into Events.
Event's window can show two faces
Like this
or like this
from one hard disk Event - You can move it to the other hard disk
You can not (at least not me) move Event to Project or other way around only
Event to Event and Project to Project
Yours Bengt W

In I tunes I cant down load a CD. I get the message "The file couldn't be convereted. You don't have write access for you ITunes media folder or a folder with in it. To change permissions, ... When I do this it still dosen't work

In I tunes I can't down load a CD. I get the message "The file couldn't be convereted. You don't have write access for you ITunes media folder or a folder with in it. To change permissions, ... When I do this it still dosen't work.

Thanks C F McBlob but I recursively changed the permissions of my Music directory meaning every file and directory beneath it, as well as the directory itself, had the write permissions added.
I used "chmod -R u+w ./Music" and chmod -R g+w ./Music" to do it.
Alas, no cigar. :-(

Changing permissions on script

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