Hi, I often hit a problem to exit vi when it won't let me write or modify due to without write permission. For example I need use vi to edit a file XYZ, and I forgot to chmod from 555 to 777 before edit. I typed vi XYZ and made some changes, and then I type ^:x and obiviously it won't let me save and exit. But I type ^:q, ctl-c, or ctl-s, and none of cmds let me exit vi. It hangs. I have to kill the session by close the window session. How to solve the problem? Thanks.

Have you tried ^:q! (including the exclamation point after 'q')?

If you want to change permissions before exiting vi, try; :!chmod u+w % (Gives user write permssions to current file) Then try: :w! That forces the write (as vi thinks the file is still read-only). Or :x! to write and quit. As Dave says above, use :q! if you want to force a quit. The reason why it stops responding is Ctl-S suspends the process. To unsuspend, press Ctl-Q. James