Cannot remove a file as root

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Level 1

8 points

Cannot remove a file as root

Hi,

I'm trying to do some annual cleanup on my MacBook Pro. There is an old executable (python3) from an upgrade a few years back. The file is in /usr/bin. When I try to remove the file I get an error.

Operation not permitted. Even when I use sudo. Same error if I use sudo -I and become root I cannot remove the file.

I opened up a case with Apple support. The tech handling the call does not know shell programming, so I had him escalate. Supposedly the Apple engineering department says they can't do anything because they do not support Python! This is absolutely ridiculous. Removing a file from the shell using bash, sh, or zsh has nothing to do with Python. This is basic BSD Unix 101 here folks! I have been using a MacBook Pro for 15 years. Creating and removing a files from the shell is normal operation.

Does anyone have any insight as to what is going on here? Has Apple support just gone down a hole? I was told I have to write down my complaint and then it will be pushed up.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Ed

Posted on Feb 4, 2021 2:50 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

babowa

Level 9

78,556 points

Feb 5, 2021 9:08 AM in response to edkenny

I am guessing here: but if you are running Big Sur, you no longer have any access to the OS or its system files as they are sequestered in a read only volume which is not accessible to you or anyone/anything else.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210650

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,144 points

Feb 5, 2021 10:35 AM in response to edkenny

Consider the read-only filesystem in Catalina and Big Sur as the ultimate roach motel. Past files that were written in the system can never check out (e.g. be removed by the user).

Neither Python.org nor homebrew install Python 3 in the /usr/bin location but starting with Xcode 11 or command-line tools for Xcode 11, it installed an outdated Python 3.8.2 into /usr/bin/python3.

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Answer 3

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,036 points

Feb 5, 2021 9:59 AM in response to edkenny

Maybe there is a way to turn off protection and temporarily mount the file system as RW?

If you boot from some other startup drive, you can mount it r/w. Since you seem to know your way around terminal, you could boot into Recovery and probably remove it from there.

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Answer 4

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,036 points

Feb 4, 2021 3:57 PM in response to edkenny

I would imagine /usr/bin is on the read only volume. But, I'm not sure how to tell.

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Answer 5

babowa

Level 9

78,556 points

Feb 5, 2021 11:19 AM in response to VikingOSX

Consider the read-only filesystem in Catalina and Big Sur as the ultimate roach motel. Past files that were written in the system can never check out

😀 That has to be the best I've heard!

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Answer 6

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,144 points

Feb 5, 2021 11:26 AM in response to edkenny

The command-line tools for Xcode 11 and later (including 12.4) install that /usr/bin/Python3 item and a minimal Python3 distribution with it. I avoid it like the plague.

Instead, I use the Python.org installer for every installation, which writes the following directory

/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/3.9

and then links binaries from that location back into /usr/local/bin as python3, idle3, pip3, etc., and an /Applications/Python 3.9 folder.

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Answer 7

edkenny Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 5, 2021 9:00 AM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks for the input. I wonder why this was never asked by Apple support.

This is the first time I have opened a ticket on MacOS and support doesn't know a thing about MacOS. Their support has gone way downhill on this one.

Strange.

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Answer 8

edkenny Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 5, 2021 9:39 AM in response to babowa

Thanks for the input. If this is true, I can see what probably happened. The file was there a long time ago. when I upgraded and now is a permanent part of the file system. Wonder why it was never put in relocated files?

Maybe there is a way to turn off protection and temporarily mount the file system as RW?

Again I have to ask why Apple support never mentioned this!

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