[CS-FSLUG] Copying files and permissions

[sjm]

Ed Hurst wrote:
> Permissions I get, as well as chmod and the octals. What I don't get is 
> how I can copy large numbers of files and directories from a VFAT jump 
> drive or NTFS external harddrive without having to go back and ding 
> around with permissions.
> 
> I have a nice 250GB external drive someone gave me, and I use it when 
> helping folks with computer problems. Recently, an owner asked me to 
> install Ubuntu on their machine. Pulled all the files off onto the NTFS 
> drive, installed Ubuntu, the copied them all back. With my limited 
> knowledge, I knew I'd either have to copy as is, and have everything 
> tagged with execute bits set, or copy with MC, turn off the "keep 
> attributes" and end up with 0600 on everything, including folders.

Same a Josiah, I don't have something nearby to test, but a couple of 
thoughts:

- format part of the external drive as ext3 for future use.  (And I 
usually use rsync for copying with permissions saved so I can pick up 
later where I left off if the connection fails.)  Remember that 
permissions are by uid and gid, so if those change between boxes, saved 
permissions would need ownership changed anyway.

- What trouble are you having with chmod -R?  (Remember that X (not x) 
only sets executable for those that are already executable.)

- I like cwRsync for Windows though can't remember how permissions 
transfer right now.

- Tim Young probably has a better answer. :)

sjm