can't create new folders or rename existing ones

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Level 1

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can't create new folders or rename existing ones

and I probably can't do other things that I haven't discovered yet.
Today I suddenly started getting an error message "The operation can’t be completed because you don’t have the necessary permission" or "You don’t have permission to rename the item “untitled folder 4.”
First I ran DU Repair Permissions. There was about eight to ten minutes worth, but then no change. Then I ran Disk Warrior and again no change. So I did DU Repair Permissions again. Another eight to ten minutes worth - how could that be? But anyway, same error messages. Any ideas on what to try next? Thank you.

24" iMac 2.93, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Mar 21, 2010 9:09 PM

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Answer 1

red_menace

Level 6

17,072 points

Mar 21, 2010 10:36 PM in response to pedal power

Were you doing anything that would have changed or added to the permissions? This does sound like a permissions issue, although Disk Utility's permissions repair won't do anything in a user account. Are you having problems with all folders, or just a specific one? Note that even if you are an administrative user, you do not automatically have access to do anything anywhere, particularly if you are trying to do things in a system folder.

Show us the permissions of (one of) the folders you are having problems with. Open the /Applications/Utilities/Terminal application, copy/paste the following command(s) into the window (there is a trailing space), drag the problem folder(s) from a Finder window to the Terminal window (this will paste the path), press return and post back with the results:

/usr/bin/who am i; /bin/ls -leO@d

These commands will display the ownership and permissions, including any ACL entries and extended attributes.

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Answer 2

pedal power Author

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Mar 22, 2010 5:50 AM in response to red_menace

Hello, and thank you. Here's what I got after doing the Terminal you suggested:

Skip ttys000 Mar 22 08:05
drwxr-xr-x 3 Skip Skip - 102 Mar 4 15:24 /Users/Skip/Desktop/untitled folder 4

Last week I added a 1T OWC external drive to my set up, partitioned it, and then did a lot of backing up and rearranging with Data Backup, but everything went smoothly. That was Thursday and Friday. I didn't notice anything on Saturday, but then I really don't recall trying to make or rename any folders. Sunday is when I noticed this issue.

I can't change the name of any folder on my Desktop, and I just tried and failed to change a folder name in Documents.

I was able to rename a folder within a Desktop folder and I was able to edit a Bean document within that same folder. I was also able to create a new folder in that folder. However, when I tried to drag the new folder out to the Desktop, I got the following error message "The item “New Folder” can’t be moved because “Desktop” can’t be modified."

I clicked on Get Info for the Desktop and got the following under Sharing & Permissions:

You have custom access

everyone Custom
Skip (Me) R&W

I don't know if this bit is relevant, but I clicked on Get Info for my hard drive and noticed the following under Sharing & Permissions:

You can read and write

everyone R&W
Skip (Me) R&W
admin R&W
everyone R&W

I don't remember seeing 'everyone' listed twice like that before.

Thanks for your interest.

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Answer 3

pedal power Author

Level 1

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Mar 22, 2010 12:08 PM in response to pedal power

Update
I called Apple Care. We tried several things that didn't help, including an 'archive and install' from the OSX disk. Finally they had me reboot from the disk and go to a page under Utilities and reset something like ASL. I don't remember exactly because he went pretty fast.
Now I have to re-update everything, but I guess it's a small price to pay. However, I keep wondering if I could have done that last bit without doing the archive & install thing first.
Anyway, thanks for your interest.

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Answer 4

red_menace

Level 6

17,072 points

Mar 22, 2010 3:37 PM in response to pedal power

There could have been additional Access Control List (ACL) entries on your Desktop and Documents folders (the standard entry just prevents the folder from being deleted). This would be the "custom access" you are seeing, since ACL entries can provide additional permissions. The *Get Info* window doesn't show the actual ACL entries though, so you need to use something else, such as the Terminal. Access Control Lists can also be modified from the Terminal, although if something like *Get Info's* "Apply to enclosed items" is used on a system created folder, things can get messed up enough to require a reinstall.

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