Urgent help, please anyone, I don't want all my data lost!

Hello,
I have been messing around with my system and forgot to do a back up, I managed to copy some files that will help me set up the customising for next time I install Ubuntu (I format and reinstall a lot, an obsession of mine) but I don't have the permissions to copy over the Pictures folder, I don't have these pictures any where else and all I want to do is copy the pictures to another drive (im using my iPod for this) but it just wont let me. I have hundreds of photos and they have great sentimental value to me,
can anybody help me out? I'm desperate.

Thanks for any help in advance,
Lee

What are the permissions on the directory where the folder is stored? If you don't know, run the command

Code:

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ls -l NAME-OF-DIRECTORY

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This should do it,

Code:

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sudo cp -R /your/picture/folder /some/place/safe

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You may want to set permissions for easier use later as well.

Code:

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man chmod

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