I am trying to access my Windows files using;
mount -t vfat /dev/hda1/mnt/windows which returns an error. The first Partition is a FAT32 partition and the only other Partition is the Linux one.
using grep vfat /etc/fstab returns nothing.
I have tried mount -t FAT32 /dev/hda1/............
with identical result
AlexO

Your syntax is incorrect - try mount -t vfat /dev/hda1 /mnt . Note there is a space between hda and /mnt

It's not so simple as that, I find that I cannot mount any directory of any dev unless it is in the list of mountable devices in the user mount tool window in the System settings blind, hda1 is not in that list, only fd0 (floppy) & cdrom
AlexO

I don't know what distro you're using, but it sounds as if you have to edit your /etc/fstab to allow normal users to access the partition. You can do this e. g. by using the parameter "users", maybe "rw" to have read and write access and "umask=0" to set the permissions of the files on your vfat partition.

If this doesn't work please look, if the directories /mnt/cdrom (or where your cdrom is mounted) and /mnt/windows have the same permissions.

Cheers

titopoquito

Only the super user (su aka root) has the permissions to do this. You also need the relevant file system support to be turned on. These requirements are standard on all systems.
The random mount of a device does not require any editing of /etc/fstab as this would only be required if you want them permanently mounted on /mnt

I cannot access /etc/fstab
I get the message "permission denied"

If I try to log in as super user - (su aka root) - the command is not recognised.
I am, of course, logged on as root while struggling with this.
How do I turn on the 'relevant support systems'
AlexO

OK sorry I forgot to use the word "not" in my previous post in the statement The random mount.... which I have now corrected. To be super user bring up a console and at the prompt enter su and you should be asked for the root password. You will notice that as a user at the prompt you will have $ but as super user you will have #.
If you have the # at the prompt you are the super user and you can use the mount command. if you get a response that it cannot mount the partition because it is an unknown file type then you will have to enable the vfat module in your kernel. This normal way to do this is, again as su, insmod vfat.
Hope this helps.

Sounds like you tried to start /etc/fstab. It's a text file you can edit with any texteditor. You could use any, depending on what you have installed. I prefer "pico" or "nano", but many folks use vi, vim or emacs. If you do this in a terminal window e. g. in KDE or Gnome, you could also use kedit or kwrite. Just type any of the commands and append the filename, like "pico /etc/fstab" as root. Then you should be able to modify the file.

my root prompt is # as you thought. I did 'insmod vfat' as you suggested and received the following:
using /lib/modules/2.4.20-8/kernal/fs/vfat/vfat.o
unresolved symbols;
fat_attach_R6c854eef
fat_scan_Rdc52f08c
fat_read_super_R20a6c604
fat_build_inode_Re879848
fat_mark_buffer_dirty_R44ae0eb5
fat_dir_empty_R9f5e4d5
fat_add_entries_R40f83f04
fat_search_long_R46824009
fat_new_dir_R7aab47f7
fat_get_entry_R5512b843
fat_date_unix2dos_R049edbc0
fat_notify_change_Rf1e7cd68
fat_brelse_R2b30b36d
fat_detach_R8208F27e

needless to say I'm out of my depth!
I was still unable to use 'mount -t vfat.......
By the way my RedHat release is 9
AlexO

To titopoquito
I tried to modify /etc/fstab as you suggested but the text editor would not let me amend it. I assume that it is 'Read only'
I was logged in as root
AlexO

The unresolved symbols means that you do not have your kernel source installed. You need to install the kernel source for your kernel which should be on the install disks. I was under the impression that RH installed the source automatically. The root cause appears to be that you don't have file system support for vfat. Once you have installed the kernel source try the insmod again.

re 'kernel source', the RH Linux came on 3 CDs. Can I boot from CD1 (as I did to install in the first place) and amend the installation? or do you suggest addressing the CD after normal booting?

I suspect that other bits are missing - I have a Sagem Broadband Modem and the driver came downloaded with a patch. I applied the patch but ./configure failed with error message " no C Compiler in path"

There must be a software installation method available. Sorry I know very little about the RH systems as I have worked almost exclusively with Debian based systems. I know with Mandrake they had a software manager that listed the packages available on the cd's. Suggest perhaps posing this question in the distro section. Sorry i am not much help on this.

I have found the source of my problems.
I believe that two of the three installation CDROMS are faulty.
I went to 'Add/Remove pgms and found loads of packages unistalled including a Windows file server called Samba.
When I tried to 'ADD' it asked for CDROM 2 & 3 neither of which could be addressed so the installations failed.
I looked at the two CDROMs using Windows & they could not be addressed (the CDROM Drive is behaving normally with other CDROMs).
As a 'NEWBIE' I naturally assume that when things go wrong the problem is my ignorance!
I will contact the supplier (linuxworld.co.uk) for replacement CDROMS.
Many thanks for you help and being prepared to 'stick with me'!
AlexO

Hi Osborne,
Yes, it does sound like your media is bad. RH9 has a built in disk test. If you put in the first disk it offers to do a 'media check'. Do this. Your installation seems to be missing several things, as my RH9 install can mount vfat just fine without having to insmod anything. Did you select 'minimal' at the package selection?
Mike