Hi guys.
What i'm tring to do is transfer a file from my linux partition to a windows partition.
In linux i can only mount the windows partition read-only(even though i specifiy the read-write option for mount), so i first transfer the files i want to my pen drive and then copy them to a folder on windows.
Problem is that the files do not open correctly in windows.
For example, yesterday i copied a video clip(.avi) and some mp3s to my windows partition, but windows media player was reporting a format error.
The reverse is untrue;linux programs happily read files taken from the NTFS windows filesystem.

I'm a bit confused because i think mp3, avi and all that is supposed to be universally supported, filesystem irrespective.

Anyone with an explanation and a solution.

Thanks.

I have done this many times with mp3's. I think I have also done this with avi's. And, I have never seen a failure. Since you can read directly from the windows drive, so there's no need to use the pen drive in that direction. I would suggest a test. Copy the files on the pen drive back to your linux side and try to play them then. My first thought on reading what you wrote is a faulty pen drive, because I can see no reason why it wouldn't work.

I'm assuming that the pen drive is formated in FAT32?

Also, I think by default NTFS write is disabled in the kernel. So, even if you give the write option, you would not be able to. You can recompile your kernel to fix this. But, last I looked, NTFS write was not reliable.

Sorry if this isn't helpful.

Yes the pen is FAT32.
I don't think there's a problem with the pen drive, because i've tried another one. I get the same problem.

You could try renaming the "format error" file in windows (which version?) and then transferring it back to linux.

Then check to see if the file is the same as the original with diffNo output means the files are identical.