Ubuntu

/var/log/btmp The file is not a regular file or is not a text file.

Asked by Vincent on 2009-07-24

/var/log/btmp
The file is not a regular file or is not a text file. What does this mean? Is it a virus?or bug ?
I have seen others with same problem but no answers
Also can the tmp folder be deleted and why do i not have permissions to look at some files
Thank you for your time as you can tell i am new to this.
thanks

Question information

Language:: English Edit question

Status:: Solved

For:: Ubuntu Edit question

Assignee:: No assignee Edit question

Solved by:: Larry Jordan

Solved:: 2009-07-24

Last query:: 2009-07-24

Last reply:: 2009-07-24

Revision history for this message

Larry Jordan (larryjor) said on 2009-07-24:

Most of the temp files in areas outside of your home directory are for the system; they are deleted when the system is done with them if all goes well. You can delete obnoxious temp files, I believe, if you do it using 'sudo'. However, I have a file at /var/log/btmp and am not having problems. Using the 'file' command (file /var/log/btmp) I find it is data. Can't tell you what it is from or what writes to it, but you're more likely to break something on your system by deleting it than fix anything.

Revision history for this message

Vincent (vincentprice555) said on 2009-07-24:

Thank you for your help its the system log viewer its got a red mark and the /var/log/btmp he file is not a regular file or is not a text file.all across the top of it.
Thank you