[Solved] Lost privileges cannot create folders on eny partition exept home

[Marie SWE]

Hi

Something has happened, but a don't have a clue what.
I can no longer create folders or save files to any hard drives or partitions on my computer .. Not even my NTFS partitions.. except in my home folder
No error messages and owner is: user (me)
I can not even create folders or save files even if I open the folder as an administrator

When i right click on a folder.. properties... click on tab rights/permissions everything is good with read and write permissions and owner is me

I have not installed any updates
I have tried restarting the computer
I have installed two programs since I know that everything works last
* gsmartcontrol
* smartmontools
I have a hard time imagining that some of these would be the cause

what has happened?
//Marie

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user@Big-i3:~$ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: Big-i3 Kernel: 4.19.0-14-amd64 x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 8.3.0 Desktop: Xfce 4.12.4 
           Distro: Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster) 
Machine:   Type: Desktop Mobo: Intel model: H310 serial: <filter> UEFI [Legacy]: American Megatrends v: 5.12 
           date: 04/09/2019 
CPU:       Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i3-8100 bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Kaby Lake rev: B L2 cache: 6144 KiB 
           flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 28800 
           Speed: 1100 MHz min/max: 800/3600 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1100 2: 1100 3: 1100 4: 1100 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel 8th Gen Core Processor Gaussian Mixture Model driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.4 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1440x900~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel UHD Graphics 630 (Coffeelake 3x8 GT2) v: 4.5 Mesa 18.3.6 direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel 200 Series PCH HD Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.19.0-14-amd64 
Network:   Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet driver: r8169 v: kernel port: e000 
           bus ID: 01:00.0 
           IF: enp1s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
Argument "300gb" isn't numeric in numeric eq (==) at /usr/bin/inxi line 11407.
Use of uninitialized value within @row in pattern match (m//) at /usr/bin/inxi line 11447.
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 1.49 TiB used: 211.71 GiB (13.9%) 
           ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD3200AAJS-60M0A0 size: 298.09 GiB 
           ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Hitachi model: HDS721010CLA332 size: 931.51 GiB 
           ID-3: /dev/sdc type: USB vendor: Western Digital model: WD32 00BEVT-22ZCT0 size: 298.09 GiB 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 121.60 GiB used: 26.11 GiB (21.5%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1 
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 25.00 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda3 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 43.0 C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Info:      Processes: 221 Uptime: 39m Memory: 7.71 GiB used: 2.05 GiB (26.5%) Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: 
           gcc: 8.3.0 Shell: bash v: 5.0.3 inxi: 3.0.32 

[Hallvor]

Launch your file manager from the terminal (I know don't like it, but it's useful ), try to create a folder and post the output.

If you dual boot, there have been people losing read/write access to shared NTFS partitions due to improper unmount by Windows.

[CwF]

except in my home folder

typically, that is correct, nothing outside /home is owned by user (me/you) all is owned by root.

Access is up to DE and user setup, sudo, pkexec, subfolder, links, mounts created by root with group permission, etc.

I have installed two programs since I know that everything works last
* gsmartcontrol
* smartmontools
I have a hard time imagining that some of these would be the cause

Actually both of those require some privileged access and install polkit files. That may fubar an improper setup.

In my setup the first check would be to check general root access, I would have a root user, pkexec terminals, pkexec thunar (similar to above post) etc. Setup correctly, those things don't break. What was the original method of access outside /home?

[Marie SWE]

Launch your file manager from the terminal (I know don't like it, but it's useful ), try to create a folder and post the output.

If you dual boot, there have been people losing read/write access to shared NTFS partitions due to improper unmount by Windows.

It is all my disks 3 HDD and all partitions, that are affected on every disk.. both ext4 partitions and as i mentioned even my NTFS partitions.. NTFS file systems never protests about user permissions to read and write. as I have moved such NTFS disks between different linux computers and different distributions with different user names many times when i switch disks for fixing things or testing
That is why I'm surprised that the NTFS partitions also is affected

to answer your question no I have not booted into windows in recent months... so windows can't be the evil one this time. And also windows can't affect the ext4 partitions.

I tried to launch file manager true terminal no errors i just can't create folders.. even tried with sudo thunar and sudo caja.. make folder is grayed out.
I tried in terminal to mkdir

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user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ mkdir test
mkdir: kan inte skapa katalog ”test”: Skrivskyddat filsystem
user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ sudo mkdir test
[sudo] lösenord för user: 
mkdir: kan inte skapa katalog ”test”: Skrivskyddat filsystem
user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ su
Lösenord: 
su: Autentiseringsfel
user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ mkdir test
mkdir: kan inte skapa katalog ”test”: Skrivskyddat filsystem
user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ su
Lösenord: 
su: Autentiseringsfel
user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ 

Translated into english

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user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ mkdir test
mkdir: can not create directory "test": Write protected file system
user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ sudo mkdir test
[sudo] password for user: 
mkdir: can not create directory "test": Write protected file system
user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ su
password: 
su: authentication error
user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ mkdir test
mkdir: can not create directory "test": Write protected file system
user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ su
password: 
su: authentication error
user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ 

[Hallvor]

To let all users read, write and execute all files on the drive, try

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# cd /media/user/Data-Disk
# chmod -R -v 777 *

[Marie SWE]

except in my home folder

typically, that is correct, nothing outside /home is owned by user (me/you) all is owned by root.

Access is up to DE and user setup, sudo, pkexec, subfolder, links, mounts created by root with group permission, etc.

I have installed two programs since I know that everything works last
* gsmartcontrol
* smartmontools
I have a hard time imagining that some of these would be the cause

Actually both of those require some privileged access and install polkit files. That may fubar an improper setup.

In my setup the first check would be to check general root access, I would have a root user, pkexec terminals, pkexec thunar (similar to above post) etc. Setup correctly, those things don't break. What was the original method of access outside /home?

I did not create a root user on install.. i skipped that option.. I did a GUI install

to mount other partitions i use sudo password.. When mounted, nothing more
In filesystem(root) i use right click open as administrator to get write privileges... or in terminal: sudo caja

So you think the two test programs I install may be the cause of lost privileges?

[Marie SWE]

To let all users read, write and execute all files on the drive, try

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# cd /media/user/Data-Disk
# chmod -R -v 777 *

I tried it on an empty partition to be safe
output... translated from swedish

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user@Big-i3:/media/user/66e7d608-7389-4555-93a4-fbad7ee1f0ae $ chmod -R -v 777 *
chmod: changes permissions on 'lost + found': Operation not allowed
could not change the 'lost + found' rights from 0700 (rwx ------) to 0777 (rwxrwxrwx)
chmod: can not read directory 'lost + found': Access denied
could not change the 'lost + found' rights from 0700 (rwx ------) to 0777 (rwxrwxrwx)
user@Big-i3:/media/user/66e7d608-7389-4555-93a4-fbad7ee1f0ae $ sudo chmod -R -v 777 *
[sudo] user password:
the rights of 'lost + found' changed from 0700 (rwx ------) to 0777 (rwxrwxrwx)
user@Big-i3:/media/user/66e7d608-7389-4555-93a4-fbad7ee1f0ae $

[b]-----------Original output in swedish---------[/b]

user@Big-i3:/media/user/66e7d608-7389-4555-93a4-fbad7ee1f0ae$ chmod -R -v 777 *
chmod: ändrar rättigheter på 'lost+found': Operationen inte tillåten
kunde inte ändra rättigheterna på 'lost+found' från 0700 (rwx------) till 0777 (rwxrwxrwx)
chmod: kan inte läsa katalog 'lost+found': Åtkomst nekas
kunde inte ändra rättigheterna på 'lost+found' från 0700 (rwx------) till 0777 (rwxrwxrwx)
user@Big-i3:/media/user/66e7d608-7389-4555-93a4-fbad7ee1f0ae$ sudo chmod -R -v 777 *
[sudo] lösenord för user: 
rättigheterna hos 'lost+found' ändrade från 0700 (rwx------) till 0777 (rwxrwxrwx)
user@Big-i3:/media/user/66e7d608-7389-4555-93a4-fbad7ee1f0ae$ 

[Hallvor]

OK. Can you make a folder there without using sudo?

$ cd /media/user/66e7d608-7389-4555-93a4-fbad7ee1f0ae
$ mkdir test

[Marie SWE]

A few days ago, i did add zswap to grub
But i have that on all my linux computers... and all others works

[Marie SWE]

OK. Can you make a folder there without using sudo?

$ cd /media/user/66e7d608-7389-4555-93a4-fbad7ee1f0ae
$ mkdir test

no....
user@Big-i3:/media/user/66e7d608-7389-4555-93a4-fbad7ee1f0ae$ mkdir test
mkdir: kan inte skapa katalog ”test”: Åtkomst nekas
user@Big-i3:/media/user/66e7d608-7389-4555-93a4-fbad7ee1f0ae$

but strange with sudo this time... one step in right direction
user@Big-i3:/media/user/66e7d608-7389-4555-93a4-fbad7ee1f0ae$ sudo mkdir test
user@Big-i3:/media/user/66e7d608-7389-4555-93a4-fbad7ee1f0ae$ ls
lost+found test
user@Big-i3:/media/user/66e7d608-7389-4555-93a4-fbad7ee1f0ae$

EDIT
this partition has ext4 filesystem
With sudo i also now can get write access on root filesystem... something has happened since the test of the command chmod -R -v 777 *

[CwF]

or in terminal: sudo caja

so sudo is the method. then post what message you get from 'sudo caja'

separately, what method facilitates "open as administrator".
that is an option within a user caja?
I don't know that answer, and my guess would be pkexec! So, method two.

All cases we need the feedback from a terminal attempt and the denial.

[Hallvor]

If the /media/user (mount point) directory only has permission for root, that could explain why you would need sudo to make the folder

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$ cd /media/user
$ ls -ld

If it gives something like this: drwx------ 13 root root

then

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$ sudo chmod 777 /media/user

to change the directory permission.

[Marie SWE]

Okay, i did now notice that my printscreen key on my keyboard didn't react when i pressed it, when I was going to make a picture on right click open as administrator... shortcut key is broken...

something biger has happen more then just read and write.
I'm going to backup data and test a timeshift restore..
In windows i just would check my system for virus... in linux.. i don't know

EDIT
I did download foxit pdf reader five days ago.. https://www.foxit.com/ and installed it... i did start that one for the first time today.... can that one be a bad one

[CwF]

shortcut key is broken...

I assume you mean it doesn't function, so its method is broken = what was the command for this shortcut? Sudo?

If one sudo command does not work, none will! ?

[Marie SWE]

or in terminal: sudo caja

so sudo is the method. then post what message you get from 'sudo caja'

separately, what method facilitates "open as administrator".
that is an option within a user caja?
I don't know that answer, and my guess would be pkexec! So, method two.

All cases we need the feedback from a terminal attempt and the denial.

Output in terminal on caja, nemo, thunar

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user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ sudo caja
[sudo] lösenord för user: 
Initializing caja-xattr-tags extension
Initializing caja-open-terminal extension
RuntimeError: object at 0x7f3bcfdb8370 of type RenameMenu is not initialized

user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ sudo thunar

user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ sudo nemo
^C
user@Big-i3:/media/user/Data-Disk$ 

Nemo gave me write access, but not thunar or caja

[Marie SWE]

shortcut key is broken...

I assume you mean it doesn't function, so its method is broken = what was the command for this shortcut? Sudo?

If one sudo command does not work, none will! ?

sorry bad english from me
I meant application shortcut for the keybord [Print Sc] / [Sys Rq] key

[Marie SWE]

If the /media/user (mount point) directory only has permission for root, that could explain why you would need sudo to make the folder

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$ cd /media/user
$ ls -ld

If it gives something like this: drwx------ 13 root root

then

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$ sudo chmod 777 /media/user

to change the directory permission.

no change.. same as before.. still no write privilege anywhere on any disk

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user@Big-i3:~$ cd /media/user
user@Big-i3:/media/user$ ls -ld
drwxr-x---+ 4 root root 4096 jul 30 01:35 .
user@Big-i3:/media/user$ sudo chmod 777 /media/user
[sudo] lösenord för user: 
user@Big-i3:/media/user$ 
user@Big-i3:/media/user$ ls -ld
drwxrwxrwx+ 5 root root 4096 jul 30 02:15 .
user@Big-i3:/media/user$ 

[CwF]

Nemo gave me write access,

Then nemo it is! And whatever text editor is working with sudo. You need to fix things, and it will not be easy to direct you.
One point to consider is sudo is not my preferred method for privileged root. Thunar for sure is working with pkexec, and generally you should convert to polkit. It simply works better.

The decision is whether sudo is working ok, and it appears it is. If it does not work for some things, then set up polkit. Maybe that is throwing you from the fire into the furnace!

Since you have a stew of packages installed, try 'pkexec command' instead of sudo command.

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pkexec thunar

As Hallvor points out, there may be more than a single issue compounding things. I'm going after establishing root rights, which seems broken.

[Marie SWE]

I am now scanning filesystem with clamtk... not fast with a HDD hahaha

[Marie SWE]

Nemo gave me write access,

Then nemo it is! And whatever text editor is working with sudo. You need to fix things, and it will not be easy to direct you.
One point to consider is sudo is not my preferred method for privileged root. Thunar for sure is working with pkexec, and generally you should convert to polkit. It simply works better.

The decision is whether sudo is working ok, and it appears it is. If it does not work for some things, then set up polkit. Maybe that is throwing you from the fire into the furnace!

Since you have a stew of packages installed, try 'pkexec command' instead of sudo command.

Code: Select all

pkexec thunar

As Hallvor points out, there may be more than a single issue compounding things. I'm going after establishing root rights, which seems broken.

Nemo did give me write access on ext4 but not on NTFS... i did miss the first time that it jumped over to another partition and i thought i had it on ntfs my miss... my local time here is 2:37AM

I don't know the difference between pkexec and polkit or what it does
Can you give me a little quick, short lesson in what it is and the difference .

Edit i am going to try Timeshift.. but I'm going to lose a lot of small settings I have made in recent months, when my last timeshift backup was made in march
I'm now in progress of copying /etc and /home before a Timeshift run.... so I can fish out settings from files and so on.