I don't thing you will be able to write to a NTFS partition

The line freychef posted for your fstab file

/dev/hda1 /windows ntfs defaults,ro,gid=windows,umask=002 0 0

it's for a read only NTFS partition (notice the "ro")

I'm not sure but I think current linux kernel doesn't support writting on a NTFS partition. You would have to convert it to fat32 first


The line Edward posted it's for you to add to your fstab file. And it should work if your windows drive is on a fat32 partition.

But that script only runs when the X server starts right? What if you want to have it running even in text mode?

the correct way to do it (atleast to me it seems correct) would be to put the line in fstab. I think the 2.5 kernel supports writing to NTFS but it says EXPERIMENTAL and could mess up the drive (highly not recommended).

Try using /etc/fstab rather than creating an extra script for mounting a drive. If you dont want the drive mounted all the time you can add the noauto option to /etc/fstab and mount manually by typing:

#mount /mnt/windows or (changing the /mnt/windows part to where you have it mouting in fstab)

I have to agree with Robert0380, why bother to write a script and put it in your init section when all you have to do is add 1 line to fstab (the same line you wouls have to add in your script basically )

ch4s3r:
Is your windows partition vfat or ntfs? That is going to make the difference of what you add to fstab. As mentioned ntfs is stable only as read only...

Use a line like this:
/dev/hdb1 /mnt/data vfat defaults 00
but change '/dev/hdb1' to the HD partition where your windows is,
and '/mnt/data' to where you want to access windows in your linux filesystem (make sure the directory exists or you will get an error!),
and change 'vfat' to 'ntfs' if applicable. If you are using ntfs then you will want to change 'defaults' to 'ro'

Since we're on the subject, how come only I can only write to my windows partition if I'm root? I've tried the uid,gid, user and users options but no luck

I have a fat32 on my windows hd, but where do i put that line in? i tried in console mount -a /dev/hda1 /mnt/windows vfat defaults 00 and it just gives me the help menu for mounting.

put it in /etc/fstable <--- use editor to add that line in , if you atr not so sure , just cat it before editing it .
luck

I think Uchiha sasuke meant /etc/fstab

You will see several similar lines in this file, so just add your new line at the bottom.

/etc/fstab is the file that declares which partitions will be mounted and where they will be mounted at boot time.

If you really want to get to know fstab you can run the command 'man fstab' but it might still be a bit over your head at this time. It will explain what all the fields represent.

thank you all very much, i ultimately decided to add the line to fstab, it works well. again thanks

need to add the umask override option in your windows partitions line in fstab. depending on how you want to secure your windows partition and who you want to give write permissions to on that partition will determine what gid and umask combination you want. for instance...

/dev/hda1 /mnt/c vfat auto,owner,gid=windows,umask=0002,exec,rw 0 0

tells you that when this partition is mounted it is owned by user root and group windows. the umask starting from the second 0 (002) means that the partition will be mounted the permissions rwx-rwx-r-x meaning that only the owner (root) and anyone in the group windows can write to that partition (while everyone - root, users in the windows group, and other can read and exec). all others have only read and exec permission. this let's you specify a select group of users who has full permissions on that partition. you'll need to create the group windows and add the users you want to have full permission to that group.

if you don't care and want everyone and their mother accessing your computer to have full permissions on that partition, then you only need to add the umask option with no gid.

/dev/hda1 /mnt/c vfat auto,owner,umask=0000,ecec,rw 0 0

i personally go with the first way on all my windows partitions, as it is more secure that way and helps to prevent joe schmoe who just happens to have access to my computer from doing something like deleting my system.ini or win.ini, etc... actually i'm even more paranoid about my c:\ drive since it's a win9X-ME install with outlook/oe passwords, profile passwords, etc. (win9X-ME passwords are easily cracked). i don't even let others read or exec permissions. so my windows partitions in fstab look something like this:

/dev/hda1 /mnt/c vfat auto,owner,gid=windows,umask=0007,exec,rw 0 0
/dev/hda5 /mnt/d vfat auto,owner,gid=windows,umask=0002,exec,rw 0 0

umask=0007 leaves a mount permissions of rwx - rwx - ---

remember how the umask values correspond to chmod values.

also remember that after changing your fstab, you need to unmount the partition and remount it using the umount and mount commands.

I know this thread is old but I never had the chance to thank you...

Thanks megaspaz. It works fine now!