Marty Lindower wrote: > Hi all- > > I realize that this is totally OT, but my problem is huge and my time is >short. As proof that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, I have somehow >locked myself out of my Applications folder on OS 10.1.3. It started last night, when >I noticed that even though I'm set up as admin on my computer, I couldn't install or >move any files into my Applications folder (this was new - no problems prior to >yesterday). > Today, I launched SuperGetInfo, and found that admin group was not set to have >write privileges for the folder. I tried to change the privileges and apply the >changes to all the folders inside, but came back with an error. I then tried to >change the owner of the folder to marty (my login), hoping that I'd then be able to >regain privileges. That caused me to be denied all access to Applications entirely. > I called Apple, and after a bit of work, they said that since I can't access >my utilities like Terminal (since they're in Applications), I'd have to back up, >reformat and reinstall. I can't reinstall X, since the CD has 10.1.1 and the Mac has >10.1.3. Other than: > 1) finding someone with a Firewire HD w/OS X to plug in, boot up and fix from there, >or > 2) buying a new HD, installing X on it and fixing my old drive from there, > does anyone have any ideas? > > TIA (and vowing NEVER to mess with Unix again),
Well, it'll require messing with Unix again...but this might work, and save you loads of time. Boot into single user mode by holding the 's' key during startup. This brings you to an interface like that in Terminal, without any GUI. You should be able to get into your user directory and set the permissions properly. You may need to type 'sudo' at the command prompt without any command after (that puts you into superuser mode until you exit) and enter your administrators password at the prompt before you can do that, if you changed the ownership of the files. This does illustrate something VERY important, and imo, something very problematic about OSX. 1) Unix is a power tool, and like any power tool, without proper care and attention to detail, you can have some amazingly gruesome accidents. 2) Apple's tech support DESPERATELY needs Unix training. This is fixable if you get into the single user mode AND know the unix commands to use. We do NOT need to get into the Windows crap of 'Oh something is broken, just re-install the system.' (if it's just that you need read/write/execute rights to your applications directory its: chmod -R u+rwx <directory name> CHange MODe changes the permissions on a file. -R (recursively, ie all the files and directories under the target) u (the user who owns them now...if you do ls -l, you will see which user owns the files. The other options for this part are 'o' for Others, and 'w' for World) +rwx (Add Read, Write, eXecute priveleges) There are other ways of setting the priveleges using a numeric code, but that's unecessarily 'olde tymie Geek' for me. Another command you may need to know is 'chown' for CHange OWNer, if you made your applications folder owned by another user...you DEFINITELY need to be in superuser mode (the sudo comand) If you want to be careful you can just do the commands in single line sudo mode sudo chmod u+rwx etc. You'll be asked for your administrator password each time. NOTE this is all from vague memory, I haven't an OSX system to hand to test it, perhaps some more OSX-savvy people will fix my instructions. -- Bruce Johnson University of Arizona College of Pharmacy Information Technology Group Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs -- G-Books is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | & CDRWs on Sale! | RoadTools $30 PodiumPad available at Apple retail stores, $20 Traveler CoolPad at Staples. Both in white for iBooks at <http://roadtools.com>. Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-Books list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
