How do I remove read only from various files?

[sham69]

I appreciate this is a recurring question on these forums and I’ve searched through previous answers on this forum but no suggested solution has so far managed to permanently remove ‘Read Only’ from my spreadsheets and documents.

Background: I run Windows 10 and also use Ubuntu trial (live?) - from a USB memory stick - on a desktop PC. I’m at the stage where I will soon create a dual boot PC with Ubuntu as my main operating system but I have problems when running Ubuntu that I’d like to address first.

When running Ubuntu trial, all my documents, new and old, open as ‘Read Only’, as do spreadsheets, yet I’ve never made any file ‘Read Only’ (tell a lie, there may have been just the one spreadsheet - can’t be sure). Files that open as ‘Read Only’ include .doc, .docx and .odf documents and .xls and .ods spreadsheets. However, these same files do not open as ‘Read Only’ when running Windows10 so I currently have to use W10 for editing (note: I use LibreOffice (v: 6.4.7.2)and Microsoft Office when running W10 and just LibreOffice (v: 6.4.2.2)when running Ubuntu trial).

Is this happening because Ubuntu is just a trial? Would I be able to edit files when Ubuntu is installed? Thanks for your consideration.

[gabix]

This question has nothing to do with LibreOffice. It is a matter of the operating system. It looks like the partition with the files is mounted as read-only. However, you are the only one who can confirm.

yet I’ve never made any file 'Read Only

Sure. You made a whole partition read-only.

[EarnestAl]

Just to complicate things, if you have anti-ransomware turned on (in MS Defender, AVG, etc.) in Windows 10 your files in Documents will be set to Read-Only and only allowed apps will be able to change them. If you are dual-booting the anti-ransomware gatekeeper to those files is not running so the files will remain read-only.

[sham69]

Interesting. I shall keep that possibility in mind when I install Ubuntu. Thanks.

[ml9104]

A “Try Ubuntu” boot from a USB-stick or DVD is not an installation. Everything outside of this will be read-only for security reasons. Just think of plugging in a USB-stick into someones PC and using “Try Ubuntu” to create havoc on the machine.

Not going to happen.

Proper installation, disk partitioning etc. and you’re in business. Not before.

[sham69]

Thanks for your response. I’m very glad to hear that! I’ve been switching my PC between Windows 10 and Ubuntu Trial for a few weeks now - just to grow accustomed with Ubuntu - and I thought I may have altered some existing files and saved the changes when running Ubuntu, but obviously not. I must have been running W10 when I saved changes to existing files. Sooner I install Ubuntu the better.