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Is it possible to get a simple answer please?

I need to change Prompt=lts to Prompt=normal in /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades, but it says I don't have root and I am not the owner.

I need the simplest form of instructions to accomplish this please as I'd rather do an internal upgrade where I don't have to be as attentive installing an upgrade as new in the future and all I get on google is stuff like this. A bunch of examples that are no help at all. I'm sort of new with Ubuntu/Linux so this is why I ask for the easiest way. I'm using Ubuntu 18.04. Past 2012 and 2014 answers for other "permission denied" questions didn't help.

AdminBee
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Michael Nix
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    Which answers didn't help any? – muru Mar 18 '20 at 08:01
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    Does this answer your question? How to properly edit system files (as root) in GUI (and CLI) in Linux? – muru Mar 18 '20 at 08:01
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    How are you trying to edit the file? Which text editor are you using? – Gordster Mar 18 '20 at 08:11
  • Presumably you do have root, though, because otherwise you're not going to be able to upgrade the system. – Chris Davies Mar 18 '20 at 08:30
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    The simplest answer would be to ask the administrator of the system to make this change to the file. – Kusalananda Mar 18 '20 at 08:54
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    @Kusalananda I remember in the 1990s when you would be reading a manual, and get to the bit where it said "ask the system administrator", and I would say "but I am the system administrator". – ctrl-alt-delor Mar 18 '20 at 10:39
  • Proof reading. Right. I did punctuate what was important exactly how it's listed. To answer another one I am the system administrator. Next, tried the default text app. Regardless Ubuntu is denying edit and save permissions for the text file.Lastly, checking reference links provided now – Michael Nix Mar 18 '20 at 10:43
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    "To answer another one I am the system administrator." If so then put "sudo " in front of your command and provide the password when asked. – Rinzwind Mar 18 '20 at 10:47
  • @ctrl-alt-delor Yes, such manuals are a bit useless. However, in this case they say I don't have root and I am not the owner, so there's someone else who's the admin. – Kusalananda Mar 18 '20 at 10:49
  • @Kusalananda But I can have more than one role. I can be: me, admin, other. – ctrl-alt-delor Mar 18 '20 at 10:50
  • That's what i am having the issue with. I do not know what to type as a full command after sudo. I mean it's like the reason I even made this post was due to a tutorial I was following. A few steps with command lines to upgrade Ubuntu internally. Sadly I got a warning that I needed to edit a file. Ironically another tutorial said "hey did you know you can upgrade using software updates? just a couple steps and it's working great. so knowing the location of said release-upgrades file, I'm asking for help on the proper command-line so I can save it to refer to in the future. – Michael Nix Mar 18 '20 at 10:54
  • Now I'm confused. The file Ubuntu wouldn't let me save the edit to now has that edit in it. Everything is bound to make me go crazy. – Michael Nix Mar 18 '20 at 10:59

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Unfortunately I cant add a comment so I have to to it with an answer:

If I understand correctly you are not able to save the system-file if opened via the GUI. The easiest way is to do this in the Terminal. If you want to change this interactively you could use e.g. nano:

sudo nano /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades

If you want to change it without any interactive editor you could use sed:

sudo sed -i 's/^\(Prompt=\).*$/\1normal/' /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades
noAnton
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