Cannot modify files after copying them from old backup to fresh Yosemite installation

Please avoid entering commands found on the internet if at all possible, especially when they use sudo - it is very easy to mistype or enter the wrong thing if you are unfamiliar with the commands.

You can reset the user permissions via Apples own tools. Backup before you begin – just in case.

Boot holding cmd+R. Recovery mode should startup (assuming you have a recovery partition).

Select Terminal from the Utilities menu.

Enter the word…

resetpassword

… & hit return.

The GUI app will open, select the main boot disk.

Select your user account in the popup menu.

Then click the Reset button at the bottom right. It will "Reset Home Folder Permissions & ACL's"

Repeat for the other users.

Quit ResetPassword from the menu,

Quit Terminal

You can also select Disk Utility and repair the system permissions & repair any disk damage that is reported via 'verify disk'.

Quit to reboot the Mac.

danas_blia wrote:

By the way - you say to avoid commands found on internet, but you yourself tell me to execute a command 🙂

I will try right away, and will let you know

Ya I see the irony too 😝

This is a case where there is no alternative way to open that app. The command you posted looks OK, unless you actually entered the quotes & entered the correct path & username, it's a worry when things fail & used 'sudo'.

The main concern is the number of pages that have old or incorrect commands, always get a second opinion.

Try this:

http://technokracy.net/2011/03/07/Extended_attributes_ACLs_and_Time_Machine/

C.

The 'change all' button is normally greyed out for me. I have to select another app to 'Open in' before it becomes a clickable button.

The reset permissions should have fixed all those files but you can try the Terminal option if you want, your user will need to be an admin user for this to work…

sudo chflags -R nouchg,nouappnd ~ $TMPDIR..;

sudo chown -R $UID:staff ~ $_;

sudo chmod -R u+rwX ~ $_;

sudo chmod -R -N ~ $_;

Clearly there is a lot going on here, wait for a second opinion if you want confirmation that it is OK but a backup is a really good idea too!

If you are unsure you can list the files in question to see if they have extended attributes or other ACL permissions set…

ls -leO@ "Path To Files"

I'm not sure if the extended attributes listed in cdhw's link is part of your issue.

The issue probably arose from how you moved files back from the Time Machine backup. If you manually did the copy the Finder will copy the ACL's & permissions over. If you use the Time Machine UI to restore files it should request admin permissions that allows the OS to restore with the appropriate permissions based on the destination. Restoring user files is best done via Migration Assistant if possible.

Try the 'Apple way' by copying files back via the Time Machine interface, opened via the 'Time Machine menu > Browse Time Machine…'. That should restore correctly - you don't have to migrate everything.

Time Machine uses ACL's to prevent other users snooping & editing other users data.

I'm glad you have it sorted & having a rough idea of what may have happened is always nice 🙂

Good luck, D