Cannot create new folders - Ubuntu on VirtualBox

Question

I've just installed Ubuntu using VirtualBox on Windows 7, and everything went fine. I'm trying to add new folders using the default file manager Nautilus, but:

Create New Folder

is disabled in any system folder. It works within my user folder though. Have I configured the virtual HDD incorrectly?

And here is my VirtualBox config:

• SATA Controller
• AHCI
• Port Count: 1

Solution 1

Everything is fine with your installation. It is how it is supposed to be.

Ubuntu protects you from doing things that may be not such a good idea by allowing possibly dangerous actions only to the super user (su...do) "root" who has administrative permission. Creating files or folders outside of our home directory is one of those tasks. Installing software would be another example of what only a super user can do (this effectively keeps malware out).

As previous answers already showed it can very easily be done. Nevertheless I suggest you wait a bit, get familiar with the Ubuntu way of doing things, and you will find out that indeed creating files and folders outside our home directories is almost never needed.

By doing so Ubuntu will reward you with the joy of having a stable and easy to maintain system where everything stays at the place its supposed to be.

Solution 2

As you don't have permission to write to /usr/src the option to create folder within it is disabled.
You can do it in command line by executing the mkdir command as root sudo mkdir /usr/src/new_dir or run the file manager as root gksudo nautilus.

Solution 3

You are trying to create a folder where you do not have permission to do so. Try creating a folder inside your Home directory, that should work.

To create a folder in the directory in the screenshot, you will need to open a terminal. Change to that directory, then create the folder with the sudo command.

cd /usr/src/

sudo mkdir <NEWFOLDERNAME>

Here is some info on sudo in case you want to read up on that. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo

Comments

[Adrian]

In addition, you could start an instance of Nautilus (the file manager) with root privileges (alt-F2, gksudo nautilus), but note that this is VERY dangerous as you now have a GUI tool where a finger slip can cause catastrophic damage to your system files.

[tgm4883]

You shouldn't run graphical utilities with sudo, use gksudo instead (when using a gnome based desktop).