Accessing protected files?

[corinthian]

Problem:
Until recently I was using a Linksys NSLU2 NAS box that stopped accessing its USB drive.

I can plug the drive into my machine and see the partitions and their contents, but I don't have access permissions.

Can anyone tell me how to change the permissions so that I can access them? Or any other solution?

[gn2]

Problem:
Until recently I was using a Linksys NSLU2 NAS box that stopped accessing its USB drive.

I can plug the drive into my machine and see the partitions and their contents, but I don't have access permissions.

Can anyone tell me how to change the permissions so that I can access them? Or any other solution?

Alt+F2 tick the run in terminal box then type sudo nautilus
Put your password in the terminal, then the Nautilus File Browser will open in root mode, so go carefully........

[corinthian]

Oops, looks like it fixed itself!
Ubuntu froze, after reboot the files where no longer protected!?!
I am at a loss to explain this.