Permissions issue on several OS and devices

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Level 1

8 points

Permissions issue on several OS and devices

Hi all

I hope someone can help me - it should be a simple issue, but I am stuck, after searching a very long time for answers. Forgive me if I'm not quite clear, as I've tried soooo many things.

I transferred data to a new hard drive in a Macbook Pro after a hard drive crash. I migrated the data to a new OS. I found that there were permission issues, so I tried installing a different OS, and manually dragged the data to the hard drive. The issues continued - all my files needed my password to change name or modify in any way. I have checked the permissions, I am admin and have read and write permission.

I was having issues with all my apps not running as it seemed they were quarantined. So I ran a xattr com.apple.quarantine command to take them out of quarantine.

I have since bought a new Macbook Air, and the data is on an external drive. If I try to work with the data on the drive, all the files have the same issue. If I copy them to the new machine, every file asks me for permission to rename, modify etc. I added read and write permissions for Admin, but I'm already admin.

I would be most grateful for some assistance. The only thing that's slightly easier is that I can now use touch ID each time instead of a password, but it's infuriating if I'm working on a file and the application needs permission - sometimes it just says I don't have permission and won't give me the option of a password input. I often have to re-save as a different filename which is madness.

I'm having this issue over multiple OSs and on two different laptops. For what it's worth, the new machine is a 15" Macbook Air M2, 16Gb running Ventura 13.5.

Thanks in advance!

Posted on Feb 20, 2024 12:09 AM

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Answer 1

RexTheRunt Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 20, 2024 6:12 AM in response to MartinR

Thanks for your speedy response!

I looked at the Get Info dialogue, and it is already set to ignore permissions. However, if I try to rename a file (or do anything else to modify it) on the external HD, permission is required. If I copy a file over to the new Macbook, the same thing - it inherits the permissions.

Regarding the other quarantine issue - I was mentioning that in case it had any bearing on the permissions on external HD (which contains files copied from that old machine). I'm not using that system, and purposely did not migrate my content from it.

When I look at the permissions settings from the Get Info boxes of the external drive and compare to some random new files on the new machine, they look identical. However, if I look in Terminal, I can see it's a very different kettle of fish. Can you tell me how to apply the correct permissions to all my files and folders recursively in Terminal?

Ext HD - Using finder:

Ext HD - Using Terminal:

On new machine

I looked up what the @ symbol indicates and apparently it's extended permissions. I tried using -e to find out what they are but I don't think I got the syntax right.

Thanks!

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Answer 2

MartinR

Level 7

25,490 points

Feb 20, 2024 5:37 AM in response to RexTheRunt

As far as files on the external drive are concerned, you could set the drive to Ignore ownership on this Volume. Do GetInfo on the drive; at the bottom of the window, click the padlock icon, enter your password, then check the box that says "Ignore ownership on this Volume."

But you said that all your apps were quarantined and you had to run xattr to take them out of quarantine. That would indicate something very unusual, and serious, about your Mac's system. Especially so if it's on multiple Macs. Give us more specific details if you can.

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Permissions issue on several OS and devices

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