/etc/apt/sources.list" E212: Can't open file for writing

Question

I am trying to edit sources.list using vi editor but getting the following error while saving the file:

/etc/apt/sources.list\" E212: Can\'t open file for wr         


        

Answer 1

You just need to access to Gemfile with root access. Before vi:

command:

sudo su -

then:

vi ~/...

Answer 2

I got this error when my directory path is incorrect, ensure your directory names and path are correct

Answer 3

Or perhaps you are on a readonly mounted fs

Answer 4

For me there was was quite a simple solution. I was trying to edit/create a file in a folder that didn't exist. As I was already in the folder I was trying to edit/create a file in.

i.e. pwd folder/file

and was typing

sudo vim folder/file

and rather obviously it was looking for the folder in the folder and failing to save.

Answer 5

It might be possible that the file you are accessing has a swap copy (or swap version) already there in the same directory

Hence first see whether a hidden file exists or not.

For example, see for the following type of files

.system.conf.swp

By using the command

ls -a

And then, delete it using ...

rm .system.conf.swp

Usually, I recommend to start using super user privileges using ...

sudo su

Answer 6

change user to root

sodu su -

browse to etc

vi sudoers

look for root user in user priviledge section. you will get it like

root ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL 

make same entry for your user name. if you username is 'myuser' then add

myuser ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL

it will look like

root ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL 

myuser ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL 

save it. change root user to your user. now try the same where you were getting the sudoers issue