1

I was downloading something today and when I tried to extract it, a window pop out saying :

An error ocurred while extracting files. Error setting owner: operation not permitted

I'm running Ubuntu 13.10 saucy salamander.

What can I do to fix it?

1 Answer 1

1

This may be an Ubuntu bug in File Roller (the default archiver installed in Ubuntu).

To work around this, you can use the Terminal. Use the following commands :

cd [DIRECTORY]
tar -xvzf [ARCHIVE NAME]

** Right click on the file and select Properties. Copy the content under Location. Replace the [DIRECTORY] by it. Do the same and Copy the content under Name . Replace [ARCHIVE NAME] with it.

The first command changes your current working directory to the directory containing the archive. The second command invokes the tar utility to extract the file.

2
  • This is what the terminal gave me: Cannot open: No such file or directory tar (child): Error is not recoverable: exiting now tar: Child returned status 2 tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now
    – user228813
    Dec 26, 2013 at 6:30
  • If there is a space in between the file name, you must enclose it in quotes, for instance: tar -xvzf "My Archive.tar.gz". Dec 26, 2013 at 7:01

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .