Why can't I save a VI file after entering data?

Question

I am new to linux, when I typed "vi FILE1" I was able to open VI editor. I added some data and I want to save the file and I tried :w but it threw me an error.

"file1" E212: Can't open file for writing Press ENTER or type command to continue

why I am not able to save it?

The directory in which I am creating file has following permissions:

drwxr-xr-x 4 pentaho pentaho 4096 Mar 12  2013 master

I am logging using root user and password.

Output of mount command :

/dev/sda1 on / type ext4 (rw)

    proc on /proc type proc (rw)
    sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw)
    devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,gid=5,mode=620)
    tmpfs on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw)
    /dev/sdb1 on /etl type ext4 (rw)
    /dev/sdc1 on /oracle type ext4 (rw)
    /dev/sdd1 on /export type ext4 (rw)
    none on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw)
    sunrpc on /var/lib/nfs/rpc_pipefs type rpc_pipefs (rw)

I have updated the question. kindly help me in that . I am creating the file in master directory which has permission stated above. — Megha Sharma, Apr 30 '14 at 02:57
There are a few possibilities. You were in a directory on a read-only mounted file-system. The file belongs to a user other than root, and is in a gvfs directory, the file is on an nfs mounted file-system, and root_squash is turned on, the file doesn't have write-permissions set ... the list goes on and on ... — tink, Apr 30 '14 at 02:58

score 5 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 29 '16 at 20:27

5

You can also get this error if the directory you are trying to save to does not exist. Even the root user will get this error.

answered Aug 29 '16 at 20:27

Walker Rowe

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And how do you solve this without saving to temporary file? – Christopher Francisco Sep 14 '16 at 19:57
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For example, if your current working directory was deleted and re-created since you switched to it, you will need to `cd .. ; cd myWorkingDir` before you can use `vi newFile` again. – Noumenon Oct 16 '16 at 00:16

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 30 '14 at 03:00

3

When you log in linux with your common user, you are logged with the user you created, but you are not superuser (you do not have all permissions). To execute a program with root priviliges (and therefore have all permissions), you have to add the command sudo. So you should run: $> sudo vi FILE1. This will ask you for the password and then you use vi normally

answered Apr 30 '14 at 03:00

Troveldom

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"I am logging using root user and password." – user2864740 Apr 30 '14 at 03:01
can you use $>touch FILE1 to check if you have permission to create files? – Troveldom Apr 30 '14 at 03:07
I can create files in other directory bit not in the master directory – Megha Sharma Apr 30 '14 at 03:12
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try `$>sudo chattr -i DIRECTORY_PATH`, as the directory may be set as immutable – Troveldom Apr 30 '14 at 03:17
touch test touch: cannot touch `test': Read-only file system – Megha Sharma Apr 30 '14 at 03:18
Worth noting `:w !sudo tee %` as per http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2600783/how-does-the-vim-write-with-sudo-trick-work – Rachel K. Westmacott Aug 19 '16 at 14:18

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered May 28 '18 at 16:08

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If you are facing issue in vi, try to create directory manually and edit the file. May be you don't have access to create directory/file.

answered May 28 '18 at 16:08

Madhavi A

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Why can't I save a VI file after entering data?

3 Answers3