help needed in unlocking files and folders

[jpak923]

my linux server crashed and i'm trying to retrieve files from the hard drive and save it to an external hard drive. i booted up in knoppix fine and i can browse the server hard drive and the external hard drive as well. BUT i can NOT copy the desired files/folders from the server hard drive to the external hard drive be cause those files/folders are locked and i don't have permission. how can i change the permission of the files/folders so that i may copy them?

[firebyrd10]

my linux server crashed and i'm trying to retrieve files from the hard drive and save it to an external hard drive. i booted up in knoppix fine and i can browse the server hard drive and the external hard drive as well. BUT i can NOT copy the desired files/folders from the server hard drive to the external hard drive be cause those files/folders are locked and i don't have permission. how can i change the permission of the files/folders so that i may copy them?

I like opening up a root window then typing konqueror.
That will give you root privlages.