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

[go7Ul1ai]

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

[pytheas22]

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

ls -l NAME-OF-DIRECTORY

[starcannon]

This should do it,

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

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

man chmod