Read ONLY?

[paulcons]

Log story, I have noticed that my boot drive (os 2016.01) says it's read only. I am the only admin and the only human to ever touch this machine. I tried adding me to the permission list, it said I had no permission. Yeah my account on the machine IS an admin one. Known? If so, why?

 

[Boyd01]

Sorry, I don't know what os 2016.01 is. However, if you are using a newer version of MacOS with APFS, it is normal for the system volume to be read-only as a security measure (to prevent unauthorized changes to system files).

"In macOS Catalina the System volume role (usually named "Macintosh HD") became read-only"

Apple File System - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Fishrrman]

What YEAR was your Mini made?
What is the real version of the OS running on it?

Power down, all the way off.
Put your finger on the shift key and don't remove it.
Press and release the power on button (still holding down shift).
Does anything change?

 

[paulcons]

Mini bought in 2024. I badly mistyped the OS version, it was 26.0.1, now 26.1. Interesting, you are suggesting my going into Safe Boot mode, I can try that for the hell of it.

@Boyd01 I think that refers to the "System" volume, not the "Data" one. That "Macintosh HD" container has both the System stuff and all my stuff, apps and documents.In point oof fact, it isn't really read only. Then again, I have installed apps that place stuff in that System volume... take little Snitch for example... they place a kext so their daemon runs all the time the machine is booted.

 

[galad]

Little Snitch is installed in the Data volume. APFS has got a feature called "firmlinks" to link folder and files between volumes. And that's how it shows up as a single volume.

 

[paulcons]

Little Snitch is installed in the Data volume. APFS has got a feature called "firmlinks" to link folder and files between volumes. And that's how it shows up as a single volume.

Ahhh, I did not know that. Actually, I can't even seem to find it no matter where it is... all I have is an app in /Applications.

While I get the 2 containers, System and Data, I guess my issue is that is not even really indicated in the Finder in any way. Yes I still have a "System" folder and inside that a Library one, then a Extensions, where I remember kexts live. There were a ton of them, all carrying the same day/date/time. Could not find where, how Snitch is doing it's thing, I just remember it sat in System/Library/Extensions in the old days. It's not even in Login Items, so I have no idea how iit is doing what it's doing.

 

[Hajj.david]

What exactly are you trying to do?