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Eple · Aug 30, 2003, 07:25 PM

Something really odd has been happening lately with OS X on my machine. I downloaded some .dmg files to my desktop and now I can't throw them in the trash or put them away on one of my drives partitions. ( i have to boot on OS 9 in order to be able to)
A window comes up saying I "do not have sufficient privileges." This is odd because I have done this many times before and I never got that warning.

any help on the matter will be greatly appreciated.

PS: I am running 10.2.6

suthercd · Aug 30, 2003, 08:25 PM

Two things to try-

Log out and back in to see if that remedies the problem

Run the Disk Utility's Repair Permissions.

Let us know if that helps.

Craig

ZackS · Aug 30, 2003, 08:31 PM

Permissions repair is overkill. Open up the terminal and type:

sudo chmod 750[space]

A space, not the word [space]. Then drag the first dmg in to the terminal and press enter, you'll be prompted for your password. Type it in and press return. Repeat for any other files. It probably won't ask for your password for 5 minutes after the first time. You should then be able to deal with them however you please.

Mr. Blur · Aug 30, 2003, 09:58 PM

Originally posted by ZackS:
Permissions repair is overkill.

no, it i not "overkill." while your suggestion certainly will get rid of the problem file(s), it will not do anything to try and fix the source of the problem, which running the disk utility repair permissions just might.

ZackS · Aug 30, 2003, 11:15 PM

Actually, it won't fix the source of the problem OR the problem. Permissions repair won't fix files it isn't explicitly set to fix. The problem is fairly random and caused by all sorts of things (bad apps or installers, running the Finder as root, etc...), most of which are not remedied my permissions repair.

Mr. Blur · Aug 30, 2003, 11:28 PM

Originally posted by ZackS:
Actually, it won't fix the source of the problem OR the problem. Permissions repair won't fix files it isn't explicitly set to fix. The problem is fairly random and caused by all sorts of things (bad apps or installers, running the Finder as root, etc...), most of which are not remedied my permissions repair.

my point was, that calling repair permissions overkill is a bit extreme. the user had the problem with not just one but a few files. running repair permissions is a "standard procedure" in troubleshooting odd problems and while it definitely won't fix those few problem img files, it *may* (slight as that chance may be) solve it for future files, and is highly unlikely to cause any harm.

Art Vandelay · Aug 30, 2003, 11:57 PM

Why does everyone recommend using the Terminal to change permissions when you can just use Get Info, especially to novice users?

ZackS · Aug 31, 2003, 01:07 AM

Less instructions.

Eple · Aug 31, 2003, 08:40 PM

Thanks for all the help, but my problem still persists.
I had already tried repair permissions and that didn't work. Now, the terminal solution won't work either.
So what else is there for me to try? When I get info from the installer it says that i have access to read and write. But, then when i try to throw it into the trash, I get a message saying: The item is being used by another task right now. (other tasks include moving, copying, or emptying trash.)

The only thing I can think off that may have caused this were some PDF files I was downloading that had .aps as an extension instead of pdf. Those things messed up acrobat and preview. ):

thanks in advance

suthercd · Aug 31, 2003, 09:02 PM

Have you tried a re-start? Then a re-start with the shift key down is the first one did not remedy the problem.

There is a sequence of trouble shooting steps that you can do, and I was trying to work through those. The problem may have been caused by something during the download, as you said, but also may be indicative of something else that is systemic.

Re-start with the shift key down boots your mac up in a safe mode with non-essential servvices, extensions, etc. disabled. If that is a solution, then there is a more finite list of areas to trouble shoot.

Craig

ZackS · Aug 31, 2003, 10:44 PM

Just sudo rm those suckers if all you wanna do is kill 'em! Open the terminal and type "sudo rm -rf " and then drag in the DMG and press return, that'll wreck it up good

Eple · Sep 1, 2003, 11:53 AM

Originally posted by ZackS:
Just sudo rm those suckers if all you wanna do is kill 'em! Open the terminal and type "sudo rm -rf " and then drag in the DMG and press return, that'll wreck it up good

(: that did it!
I'd like to learn more about using the terminal though. Can you recommend any OS X especific unix shell books?

thanks again.