This sometimes causes a problem as a USER.

I've got a 250GB maxtor external HD with a Windows NTFS partition Windows_D

as a normal user clicking from Konqueror the Windows_D folder I get Empty 0 files but of course it's fine as Root or running KDE in "Superuser Mode".

So here's what to do if you want to access this stuff as a USER. Remember Windows NTFS is read only --that's not a prob but I need to READ the data unitl I can eventually bin Windows altogether.

1) As Root ensure the folder (Windows_D in my case) as the permissions set so users etc can have access to folder Windows_D.

2) Find out the device number of your HD drive --mine is /dev/sdb1

3) ensure you have something like this in your etc/fstab

/dev/sdb1 /windows/D ntfs ro,users,gid=users,umask=0002,nls=utf8 0 0

4) Ignore any start up error messages for /dev/sdb1 (or your device address)

5) add your user to group USERS in YAST --I know default says user is part of group USERS but click the box (advanced / other settings)

6) as root umount /dev/sdb1

7) as root again mount -a

8) now login as user, start X and you should have access to Windows_D or whatever your partition is called.


The problem is initially when starting there's a whole lot of USB stuff which I certainly can't fathom out. By Umount and mount -a it will remount all the stuff according to what's in the fstab table. At boot time the Windows partion on the USB drive isn't ready as a "Normal" partition.

I'm sure someone can come up with a decent technical explanation -- but the above works.

Apart from the initial frustration I had with 9.3 caused by a bad / corrupted download I'm reasonably impressed --even Wireless is working.

The only GRRRRRRHHHH I have is DVD playing which I did get working once has so far defied any and all attempts to work again. Once I've cracked this nut it's BYE BYE 'DOZE.

Cheers

-K