Files

Both USB and disk have become "read only" and I cannot add any new files.

Asked by William Prestwood

I have not made any changes to my Elementary OS file system, but after downloading and installing updates, I cannot add any new files to either my USB or to my CDRW disk. Whenever I try, the error message appears: "Error in transferring file. Destination is read only." How can I fix this?

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Jeremy Wootten (jeremywootten) said : 		#1

Can you check that you have write-access to the USB disk by looking at the Properties or otherwise? Is there enough empty space on the device?
Are you able to to create files on the device from the command line or by using a different file manager?

Regarding the CDRW disk, have checked it is in a writable state using Brasero or Xfburn for example? If it is, the pathbar in Files should show "burn://" as the address. If not, it will show "cdda://" or something. Files isn't currently designed for burning optical disks; it would probably be better to use a dedicated application like Brasero or Xfburn.

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Shuvo (shuvo27-f) said : 		#2

are you running this OS in live usb?

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William Prestwood (williamprestwood) said : 		#3

Jeremy Wootten (jeremywootten)

Can you check that you have write-access to the USB disk by looking at the Properties or otherwise?

   * Properties indicate that the current status is Read, Write and Execute for both the USB and CDRW

 Is there enough empty space on the device?

   * 11.0 GB free on USB. 200.7 MB free on CDRW.

Are you able to to create files on the device from the command line or by using a different file manager?

   * Yes. I am able to download files to "Documents" folder, "Music" folder, "Pictures" folder and basically all other locations. USB and CDRW are the only exceptions.

Regarding the CDRW disk, have checked it is in a writable state using Brasero

   * Brasero gives me almost the same error message stating that the image could not be burned to the specified location.

Shuvo (shuvo27-f)

are you running this OS in live usb?

   * No, the system is fully installed. The problem first occurred whenever I recently downloaded recommended software updates.

>> Thanks for your continued help.
      ~ William

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Jeremy Wootten (jeremywootten) said : 		#4

If Brasero cannot write to the CDRW (check this from a clean restart without having run Files first) then this is probably not a problem with Files. Have you tried different writable optical disks to confirm its to a problem with that one disk?

You didn't say whether you can write to the USB using a different application - for example using Scratch to save a text file onto it. Do you get the same problem with any USB thumb-drive you try?

We need to narrow down which part of the system is causing the problem.

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William Prestwood (williamprestwood) said : 		#5

Jeremy Wootten (jeremywootten)

To answer your question, all writable disks were experiencing the same problem. Yes, I could write and save files from Scratch and all other apps without any problem. But here is the information you really need to focus on (I was a tech for Dell Computer software for years before I retired): the problem developed because of some bug in one of the updates. I have narrowed it down to either one of the "Distribution Updates," or one of the "elementary OS Updates." Something in there has a bug(s). I did a complete reinstall and only downloaded the "Security Updates" and "Recommended Updates" and this solved the problem.

Hope you fellows are able to locate the problem, and again, thanks for all your help.

</PROBLEM SOLVED>

    ~ William