Hello, I'm very much a Linux newbie and really enjoying Mandriva 2006. However, I can't access my external USB drive, which containsWindows data. Everytime I select its icon I get a "Could not enter folder /mnt/External_Disk1." error message.

Can anyone help me out on how I could gain permanent access to this drive. It shows up as being "Mounted", but this stil does not allow me access to it.

Many thanks,

David

whats the output of 'ls -l /mnt/External_Disk1'?
you probably need to change your 'mount' command used to mount the device or the entry in /etc/fstab so that you are the owner or can access it. right now probably only root can access it.

Sorry, I'm really very new to all this. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "Output" I pasted 'ls -l /mnt/External_Disk1' in Konsole as root and this is what it came up with, if it's any help.

Password:
[root@localhost david]# ls -l /mnt/External_Disk1
total 5675757
-r-------- 1 root root 5667897344 Jul 17 06:02 170706.tib
-r-------- 2 root root 4043848 Jun 3 18:29 3 LimeWireWinPro.exe
-r-------- 1 root root 172032 Dec 25 2001 abmFind.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 26112 Apr 27 16:07 About Me.doc
-r-------- 2 root root 339968 Jun 4 2002 AlbumBase.dll
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jun 8 14:38 albums/
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jun 8 14:38 animation/
-r-------- 1 root root 151552 Jan 27 2003 AnwSkin.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 271360 Jul 1 02:49 archive.pst
-r-------- 1 root root 73728 Dec 3 2001 ASPI.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 26112 Jan 23 20:09 atk.pyd
-r-------- 1 root root 49152 Nov 1 2002 Autoplay.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 77824 Sep 28 2005 bz2.pyd
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jun 8 14:39 Calendar/
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jun 6 11:43 CCleaner/
-r-------- 2 root root 1456312 Jun 6 11:42 ccsetup130.exe
-r-------- 1 root root 400 Jun 29 1999 click1.wav
-r-------- 1 root root 533 Jun 29 1999 click2.wav
-r-------- 2 root root 6134 Feb 3 02:25 credits-l10n.txt
-r-------- 1 root root 577 Feb 3 02:25 credits.txt
-r-------- 1 root root 73728 Mar 18 2005 _ctypes.pyd
-r-------- 2 root root 25088 Apr 29 07:05 David Hardcastle.doc
-r-------- 1 root root 7940 Apr 22 19:30 David.jpg
-r-------- 1 root root 61440 Feb 2 23:50 dde.pyd
dr-x------ 1 root root 8192 Jul 16 22:07 D Drive/
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jun 8 14:43 DevInfo/
-r-------- 1 root root 196 May 30 2003 Dev.ini
-r-------- 2 root root 450560 May 30 2003 DigitalImage.exe
-r-------- 2 root root 217 Jun 8 14:42 Digital Image.lnk
-r-------- 1 root root 1849 Mar 11 2004 DscUtil.ini
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jul 10 22:13 DVDFabDecrypter_Temp/
-r-------- 2 root root 19968 May 30 14:46 DVD Movie Template.doc
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 May 19 11:57 DVD Shrink/
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jun 8 14:38 Edges/
-r-------- 1 root root 53248 Oct 22 2001 EditWin.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 122880 Oct 22 2001 eff_ehn.dll
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jun 23 20:21 Error Nuker 2005/
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jun 18 11:24 etc/
-r-------- 1 root root 462848 Mar 15 2002 EXIF.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 502916 Nov 27 2001 exif.exf
-r-------- 1 root root 708608 Nov 5 2002 EzDll.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 692224 Aug 7 2002 EzFile.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 28160 Oct 22 2001 ezrgb24.ax
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jun 8 14:39 Fantasy/
-r-------- 1 root root 115712 Dec 23 1997 Filefpx.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 968 May 23 2003 files.lst
-r-------- 1 root root 204800 May 15 2003 FIO.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 5120912 May 18 20:11 Firefox Setup 1.5.0.3.exe
-r-------- 1 root root 332800 Jan 18 2002 FPXLIB.DLL
dr-x------ 1 root root 8192 Jun 8 14:39 Frames/
-r-------- 1 root root 91136 Jan 23 20:09 gobject.pyd
dr-x------ 1 root root 8192 Jun 8 14:39 Greeting/
-r-------- 1 root root 1350656 Jan 23 20:09 _gtk.pyd
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jun 8 14:42 Help/
-r-------- 1 root root 77824 Jan 13 2003 HiRes.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 892928 Sep 27 2004 iconv.dll
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jun 18 11:24 images/
dr-x------ 1 root root 12288 Jul 17 09:24 Incomplete/
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jun 23 22:12 Internet Downloads/
-r-------- 1 root root 45056 Sep 27 2004 intl.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 14336 Nov 19 2005 _iocp.pyd
-r-------- 1 root root 122880 Jan 18 2002 JPEGLIB.DLL
-r-------- 2 root root 20992 Apr 24 15:57 Ken Ward - D B Hardcastle.doc
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jul 1 13:03 Lake District Walks_files/
-r-------- 2 root root 29582 Jul 1 13:03 Lake District Walks.htm
-r-------- 1 root root 11825 Jan 17 2002 Lblspec.ini
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jun 18 11:24 lib/
-r-------- 2 root root 112128 Feb 1 2005 libatk-1.0-0.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 89088 Aug 22 2005 libgdk_pixbuf-2.0-0.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 581120 Aug 22 2005 libgdk-win32-2.0-0.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 586240 Aug 18 2005 libglib-2.0-0.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 19968 Aug 18 2005 libgmodule-2.0-0.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 218624 Aug 18 2005 libgobject-2.0-0.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 23552 Aug 18 2005 libgthread-2.0-0.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 3168256 Aug 22 2005 libgtk-win32-2.0-0.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 223232 Aug 18 2005 libpango-1.0-0.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 155648 Aug 18 2005 libpangoft2-1.0-0.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 44032 Aug 18 2005 libpangowin32-1.0-0.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 202752 Sep 27 2004 libpng12.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 3639427 Feb 3 07:41 library.zip
-r-------- 1 root root 28038 Feb 3 02:24 LICENSE.txt
dr-x------ 1 root root 16384 Jul 17 09:19 LimeWire/
dr-x------ 1 root root 16384 Jul 17 09:23 LimeWire Downloads/
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jun 18 11:24 locale/
-r-------- 1 root root 995383 Jun 24 2002 MFC42.DLL
-r-------- 1 root root 1060864 Dec 2 2005 mfc71.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 28672 May 29 2003 Monitor.exe
-r-------- 2 root root 40960 May 29 2003 MsdModule.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 348160 Nov 18 2005 msvcr71.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 266293 Oct 23 2000 msvcrt.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 147456 Mar 12 2002 MultiPrint.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 98304 Jan 28 2002 myCtrl.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 93495221 Apr 28 19:50 OOo_2.0_windows_install_en-GB.exe
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Apr 28 19:53 Open Office/
-r-------- 2 root root 32768 Oct 22 2001 OsWrapperForPI.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 63488 Jan 23 20:09 pango.pyd
dr-x------ 1 root root 8192 Jul 10 10:42 PC TOOLS/
-r-------- 2 root root 443 Jun 8 14:39 PhotoImpression 3.lnk
-r-------- 2 root root 1724416 Apr 29 2002 PhotoImpression.exe
-r-------- 2 root root 8628 May 22 2002 PHOTOIMPRESSION.GID
-r-------- 2 root root 356222 May 15 2002 PHOTOIMPRESSION.HLP
-r-------- 2 root root 1399 Jun 8 14:39 PhotoImpression.SET
-r-------- 1 root root 135168 Nov 5 2002 PhTune.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 61440 Dec 25 2001 PiApi.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 45056 May 29 2003 PnPModule.dll
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jul 1 12:04 Program Files/
-r-------- 1 root root 77824 Oct 22 2001 PScan.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 478 Feb 3 03:15 public.key
-r-------- 1 root root 135168 Sep 28 2005 pyexpat.pyd
-r-------- 1 root root 1867776 Sep 28 2005 python24.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 319488 Jan 11 2006 pythoncom24.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 102400 Jan 11 2006 pywintypes24.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 4697 Feb 3 02:24 README.txt
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Apr 23 23:18 RECYCLER/
-r-------- 2 root root 82 Feb 3 03:15 redirdonate.html
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jun 23 19:53 RegistryFix/
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jun 23 20:26 Registry Mechanic/
-r-------- 1 root root 225280 Apr 16 2002 Res_Dll.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 180224 May 30 2002 Res_PI.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 98 Jun 8 15:06 rollinfo.db
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jun 8 14:38 Samples/
-r-------- 1 root root 8192 Sep 28 2005 select.pyd
-r-------- 1 root root 11169936 Jun 6 11:54 setupeng.exe
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jun 8 14:38 Shapes/
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jun 18 11:24 share/
-r-------- 1 root root 131072 Jan 11 2006 shell.pyd
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jun 8 14:42 Skin/
-r-------- 1 root root 49152 Sep 28 2005 _socket.pyd
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jul 7 10:25 Speedtouch Files/
-r-------- 1 root root 145040 Nov 7 2002 splash.png
-r-------- 1 root root 479232 Sep 28 2005 _ssl.pyd
-r-------- 2 root root 700416 Oct 31 2005 StubInstaller.exe
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jun 8 14:38 SysAlbum/
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jul 1 09:06 System Volume Information/
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jun 8 14:38 Texture/
-r-------- 2 root root 2748 Feb 3 02:24 TRACKERLESS.txt
-r-------- 1 root root 57344 May 29 2003 TwainUI.dll
dr-x------ 1 root root 40960 Jun 8 14:38 ui/
-r-------- 2 root root 405504 Sep 28 2005 unicodedata.pyd
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jun 9 10:26 videodvdduplicator/
-r-------- 2 root root 73728 Mar 31 2003 VideoModule.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 4608 Sep 28 2005 w9xpopen.exe
-r-------- 2 root root 53248 Oct 29 2002 wdmcapture.dll
-r-------- 2 root root 152 Aug 29 2002 wdmcapture.set
dr-x------ 1 root root 0 Jun 8 14:38 Web/
dr-x------ 1 root root 4096 Jun 8 14:39 Web Registration/
-r-------- 1 root root 90112 Apr 24 2003 WhBrd.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 73728 Jan 19 00:03 win32api.pyd
-r-------- 2 root root 14848 Jan 19 00:03 win32event.pyd
-r-------- 1 root root 106496 Jan 11 2006 win32gui.pyd
-r-------- 2 root root 27648 Jan 11 2006 win32process.pyd
-r-------- 2 root root 5632 Jan 19 00:03 _win32sysloader.pyd
-r-------- 1 root root 651264 Jan 19 00:03 win32ui.pyd
-r-------- 1 root root 122880 Jan 11 2006 winxpgui.pyd
-r-------- 1 root root 70656 Sep 27 2004 zlib1.dll
-r-------- 1 root root 69632 Sep 28 2005 zlib.pyd
-r-------- 2 root root 9216 Nov 19 2005 _zope_interface_coptimizations.pyd
[root@localhost david]#


The contents of my fstab are:


# This file is edited by fstab-sync - see 'man fstab-sync' for details
/dev/hdb1 / ext3 defaults 1 1
/dev/hdb6 /home ext3 defaults 1 2
/dev/hdc /mnt/cdrom auto umask=0,user,iocharset=iso8859-15,codepage=850,noauto,ro,exec,users 0 0
/dev/hdd /mnt/cdrom2 auto umask=0,user,iocharset=iso8859-15,codepage=850,noauto,ro,exec,users 0 0
none /mnt/floppy supermount dev=/dev/fd0,fs=ext2:vfat,--,umask=0,iocharset=iso8859-15,sync,codepage=850 0 0
/dev/hda1 /mnt/windows ntfs umask=0,nls=iso8859-15,ro 0 0
none /proc proc defaults 0 0
/dev/hdb5 swap swap defaults 0 0
/dev/sda5 /mnt/External_Disk1 ntfs pamconsole,exec,noauto,utf8,iocharset=iso8859-15,managed 0 0