Permission problems with copied files

[solinari6]

I'm having an odd problem with some old files of mine. On my previous macbook pro, I had some development work saved off in a directory called "Development"

When I got my new laptop, I copied those directories to a external drive, and then copied them to the new macbook pro. The user ID was the same on both macs.

But now when I try to use those files, I get a lot of "NoPermissions (FileSystemError): Error: EACCES: permission denied" messages.

I've double checked the access on the files, and it SAYS that my userID should be able to read/write. But it doesn't work, and I wonder if it has something to do with the computer thinking the id is different even though it is the same, because it came from a different macbook?

I've tried various CHGMOD and CHGOWN commands I've seen recommended, and nothing has helped. Anyone have any ideas what I could try?

 

[solinari6]

So I've tried to update the permissions of one of the directories to the above (the scribbled out part is my username).

STILL, I am not able to create new files (or edit old files) in this directory.

The only way I can get it to work is if I start the file editor with SUDO, then I can save a file in that directory. But I shouldn't have to do that, should i?

 

[Brian33]

I believe the permissions shown in the Get Info box correspond to the unix-style permissions one sees using command-line tools in Terminal. However, there is another system of access rules, called ACLs (Access Control Lists) that could maybe be preventing you from accessing the files the way you want. It's a long-shot, but possibly that's the issue...

I'm not very knowledgeable about ACLs, but I know that they can be displayed in Terminal.app by using the following form of the list command (cd to the containing directory first):

ls -le

For example, if you issue that command in your home directory, you will see that the standard folders within your account have ACL permissions like "group:everyone deny delete". You could check your Development directory and its files for unexpected ACL permissions. I'm not suggesting that "deny delete" on the standard Folders is a problem, just that if "Development" is followed by something like "group:everyone deny write" I would take note of that...

When I got my new laptop, I copied those directories to a external drive, and then copied them to the new macbook pro. The user ID was the same on both macs.

How did you "copy" them to the external drive, and then to the new Mac? Using Finder, or command-line 'cp', or some backup application? I believe some ways of copying files will strip off ACLs and some won't. For example, I think copying with Finder will preserve ACLs, but 'cp' (by default) does not...

 

[solinari6]

Thanks for the suggestions .... I actually just figured this out yesterday. I ended up uploading the whole directory to my google drive via finder, and then re-downloaded it through drive.google.com (not finder). This gave me 'fresh' versions of these files with the correct permissions.

Dumb, but it worked! lol

 

[Fishrrman]

How to avoid permissions problems when copying files via a hard drive or USB drive (etc.):

1. Mount the drive on the desktop
2. Click on the drive icon ONE TIME to select it
3. Bring up the "get info" box (command-i)
4. At the bottom of get info, click the lock and enter your administrative password
5. In "sharing and permissions", put a CHECKMARK into "ignore ownership on this volume"
6. Close get info

You can now copy whatever you need from the drive to the Mac, and copied items will "fall under the ownership" of your new account...