4

I have some files and folders that I can't delete. I click menu -> right click and the delete option is not available.

I can delete by using the terminal, but I'd prefer to do it from the GUI.

It's something to do with permissions, can someone help?

1
  • What files and folders won't give you the option to delete them?
    – Joepie Es
    Aug 23, 2022 at 14:42

5 Answers 5

8

Make the current user owns everything inside the folder,itself as well as the parent folder.

chown $USER -R /desired.folder
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  • ok, but what about the rest the files in system. I can't delete anything in desktop, home folder, even on partitons
    – Matt
    Feb 21, 2012 at 19:19
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    some one messed up ur permessions i think you need some one advanced.... i recommend booting live medium again and repairing ur existing installation Feb 21, 2012 at 19:26
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    found it in termian - sudo chmod +s /usr/bin/avrdude and ls -al /usr/bin/avrdude thats all. I even cant remeber from when i can't use delete cut and move to option ...
    – Matt
    Feb 21, 2012 at 19:34
  • you have to run that command in terminal just ur home directory and other partition should have all access dont mess with other direcotry partitions Feb 21, 2012 at 19:39
  • i run it in right directory;/
    – Matt
    Feb 21, 2012 at 19:56
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For those particular cases I use nautilus as root: Press Alt-F2 and type:

gksu nautilus

Then proceed with caution, you may seriously damage your system.

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  • Hmm... good solution but why i can edit files on ubuntu partition but i cant do in on the rest ntfs partition;/. Is is possible repair it?
    – Matt
    Feb 21, 2012 at 22:10
  • Matt, as root you're supposed to do everything. However, you can't change owner or permissions on ntfs partitions, I had a similar problem and fixed it adding my user to the group that owned the ntfs file system...
    – th3pr0ph3t
    Feb 23, 2012 at 17:31
  • hell yeah! i had turned off write option in NTFS manager... lol!
    – Matt
    Feb 24, 2012 at 22:02
0

If you want to remove file and folder from terminal you can use

rm <filename>

delete folder

rm -rf <foldername>
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I tried to delete an NVIDIA DSW user's guide from the desktop at least 20 times but it re-appeared after restart or boot. None of the suggestions above helped, because I could delete the file. I finally did a "find" for the file and a copy was in /usr/share/oem-config-dsw/ qlong with a script that kept re-installing it to the desktop. Removing the file and script in this folder fixed the problem.

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  • This is a specific file. We don't know what files and folders OP is talking about.
    – Joepie Es
    Aug 23, 2022 at 14:43
  • This is a specific file. We don't know what files and folders OP is talking about.
    – Joepie Es
    Aug 23, 2022 at 14:43
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change the name of the folder that contains those files or folders.

for example: The_name_of_the_root_folder_that_contains_the_not_manageable_files change it to 1 or Name

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