Well, actually I believe the OP is trying to access the files on the N900 via a Windows computer (based on their mention of winscp and putty*)

and the problem they have (I assume) is trying to access files owned by root (perhaps even by user in some cases) due to Windows getting confused. There is probably a workaround for Windows users, but none that I have heard of.


*= yes putty is available for *nix, but no one is stupid enough to use it when they have every variety of native *nix terminals at their fingertips