access window's files with linux
 

I have a linux distro (PHLAK) and I am wondering how I would access my files of my harddrive (which is Windows XP, NTFS format). I'm new to linux so i do not know much. I surfed around the web for some answers, but they all talk about dual boot machines. I am just loading off a CD so I'm pretty sure it is a little different. Anyways, if someone could help me out with this problem it'd be great. I'm just mainly trying to access my mp3s and videos.

maybe samba (I'm not sure tho...)

anyways linux kernel can read from ntfs partitions, in linux 2.6.X write support is supposed to work (experimental, but in 2.4.X write support could kill the whole ntfs partition, soo its a improvement :) )

anyways since your using a cdrom theres really nothing you can do unless the distro makers included ntfs read support when making the cdrom, or at least included a program that could...

still, i think you'll have to get a new linux distro if you want to read ntfs partitions from a cdrom, if you put the distro on the computers hard drive then you can (almost easily, once you get the hang of it) install the necessary software and stuff to read your windows drives

my friend said he read his computer's contents somehow. and im pretty sure phlak does read ntfs. i dont need to write anything, just read.

could i possible do some "mount thing" and still have it work?

some kernels have experimental ntfs read support built in. if not, see if you can find a module for it. if it's in the same computer, mount will do the trick with the proper kernel/module support.

actually..... 2.6 kernels HAVE read/write support for ntfs..
the ntfs for linux is nolonger experimental.

try the following....(as root)

mkdir /mnt/windowsXP
mount -t ntfs /dev/(windows disk and partiton number) /mnt/windowsXP

it will either work,
or it will fail, the disk and partiton you entered is not of ntfs format / doesnt exist
or it will fail with the error ' your kernel dont support ntfs'

the first fail is human error,

if the kernel dont support ntfs, then run 'uname -r' if you are running a 2.4 kernel, then you need to find a read only driver. (or upgrade to 2.6) if you are running a 2.6 kernel, you need to re-compile with ntfs support. (or download the ntfs source from the ntfs project home page, install your kernel source, and compile an ntfs module)

its alot easter than it sounds.

but seeing as you dont apear to even understand the mount command, i recomend you read 'man mount'

okay ?

fdisk -l to find the drive information (/dev/???) for your windows partition then follow the directions supplied by qwijibow

man fstab and man mount to find out how to add lines for mounting other drives and partitions and to find out all the options for mounting other drives and partitions.

entries in /etc/fstab will have the mount options, drive/partition to mount, and the mount directory for mount to use. you can also in the mount options have the auto option in /etc/fstab to automatically mount the drive and partition on boot up.

There is no NTFS writing capability, there is however, NTFS editing ability as long as the file size stays the same, which is next to impossible. So don't try. I have heard of something about a captive ntfs but I dunno what that is, but the bottom line is, NTFS write is not safe, don't use it.

like ive already said.....
under the 2.4 linux kernel, ntfs writing was experimental, and almost always damaged the file sysem. (Read the help file on ntfs in a later 2.4 kernel source code)

HOWEVER..... under kenrel 2.6, nfts support is stable. the readme in the kernel source says that ntfs writing is new, so be careful, however it passed all tests, and they have not yet to recieve a single report of the ntfs writing module damaging the file system.
ive used it many many times, and i agree with them, NTFS writing works under kernel 2.6.X