[vilmosz]

Using an iMac 17" 1.6, PowerPC, OS 10.5.8. Last year, prior to reinstalling my OS, I moved all data, including a locked folder, onto a 250 GB OWC Neptune 7200RPM FireWire 400 External Complete Solution using Oxford911+ Chipset.

Since then, I have been unable to access the folder. Perhaps I forgot the password, or perhaps it's something else. The permissions on the folder's Get Info box read:

• unknown -- Write Only (drop box)
• unknown -- Read Only
• everyone -- No Access.

I'd appreciate some advice on how I might access my folder. Thanks in advance.

[reader50]

It's owned by a user ID number that doesn't exist on your reinstalled system. You can change the permissions or work around them several different ways.

Easiest answer: Get Info on the external drive. Check the box at the bottom to "Ignore ownership on this volume". This is the easiest way.

Little more difficult: Get Info on the problem folder. Authenticate, then change all the permissions to Read & Write. Apply to enclosed items. This should work, but with an unknown owner, the Finder sometimes does not cooperate in my experience.

More involved: Log in as the root user. Pull up the Get Info box on that folder. Change the owner to your current account if you wish. Set read/write permissions as desired. Then use the action button to apply changes to enclosed items, just in case.

CLI solution: Launch Terminal. Assuming you've enabled the root user account:
su root
{it will request the root password}
chmod -R 777 {drag problem folder and drop onto Terminal window}

[vilmosz]

Thanks for the assist; soon as I get back to the machine, I'll give it a shot. Fingers crossed.

[vilmosz]

I actually do not see a checkbox indicating "Ignore ownership on this volume" in the Get Info box of the volume. The last thing in the Get Info Window is Sharing and Permissions: You have no access.

[vilmosz]

I also do not know how to authenticate a folder - i don't see that option in the Finder.

[reader50]

It's the padlock icon at the bottom of Sharing and Permissions. Click to bring up an authenticate dialog.

[vilmosz]

Thanks -- logging in as the Root Administrator worked - I was able to access the folder, I copied the contents to another folder, and deleted the locked one. Thanks for your help.