[SOLVED] Can I write to a FAT32 partition from Debian?

Lorax · 12-15-2009, 08:52 PM

Debian Lenny Gnome.
Compaq desktop, Intel Celeron 1100 MHz, 512k

Is it possible to write files to a Fat 32 partition?
The drive is mounted. I can explore the files present there, as well as use them and copy them to Debian, but I keep running into the same old "You do not have permissions" crizzap when I try to save files onto that partition.

The FAT32 is on a separate HD from my Debian. Winderz is on that drive's first partition, and the FATTY is the drive's other partition.

Tinkster · 12-15-2009, 08:58 PM

Yes, you should be able to (unless the HDD has physically disabled write access).

What do you see as the mount-options?

Cheers,
Tink

arief karfianto · 12-15-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorax

Debian Lenny Gnome.
Compaq desktop, Intel Celeron 1100 MHz, 512k

Is it possible to write files to a Fat 32 partition?
The drive is mounted. I can explore the files present there, as well as use them and copy them to Debian, but I keep running into the same old "You do not have permissions" crizzap when I try to save files onto that partition.

The FAT32 is on a separate HD from my Debian. Winderz is on that drive's first partition, and the FATTY is the drive's other partition.

as long as I use linux, I'm able to read/write the FAT32 partition without facing any problems.

If you have some troubles, try checking the disk's permission, maybe the permission is not writable by the system.

Wish you luck bro..

~sHyLoCk~ · 12-15-2009, 09:25 PM

Make sure you have "rw" as an option in your /etc/fstab entry of the drive.

Regards

Lorax · 12-15-2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

What do you see as the mount-options?

I should know what you mean, by now, but....

I think you are referring to the same as Shylock? (Hi Shylock, remember me??!!)

Quote:

Make sure you have "rw" as an option in your /etc/fstab entry of the drive.

I KNOW I know this, I'm just not recalling it (old smoker's brain HA!)

Lorax · 12-15-2009, 10:59 PM

Ok, can someone help with this info, Now?

Quote:

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
/dev/hdb1 / ext3 errors=remount-ro 0 1
/dev/hdb5 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/hdc /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto 0 0
/dev/hda1 /winderz ntfs-3g rw,users,auto,noatime,exec 0 0
/dev/hda2 /fat vfat users,rw,auto,noatime,exec 0 0
/dev/hdd1 /xtra ntfs-3g rw,users,auto,noatime,exec 0 0

I found this in the GUI. It would be great if someone could tell me how to get exactly this info by terminal. Thanks

evo2 · 12-15-2009, 11:04 PM

fstab, looks ok. You can get that info from the terminal with:

Code:

cat /etc/fstab

I wonder if a different user mounted the partition, and therefore only that user (and root) can write to it:
We can find out with:

Code:

id
ls -al /fat

Evo2.

Lorax · 12-15-2009, 11:12 PM

Hey evo!

?????????????????????????

Quote:

LORAXNETWORK:~# id
uid=0(root) gid=0(root) groups=0(root)
LORAXNETWORK:~# ls -al /fat
total 36
drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 8192 1969-12-31 19:00 .
drwxr-xr-x 26 root root 4096 2009-12-13 20:26 ..
drwxr-xr-x 5 root root 8192 2009-12-10 23:04 kite
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 8192 2009-12-11 19:37 Recycled
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 8192 2009-12-10 23:04 System Volume Information

I am the owner and only user.

evo2 · 12-15-2009, 11:24 PM

Hi Lorax,

Ok, so the partition has been mounted by root, and only root can write to it. So as a normal user you will not be able to write to it.

So that you as a normal user can write to the /fat please do the following. Close any file browser windows that are open showing anything in /fat, and close any terminals. Now open a terminal as you (not root), then type.

Code:

su
umount /fat
exit
mount /fat

Now please try to see if you can write to /fat as a normal user.

EDIT* I just saw a problem with your fstab the entries that says "users" should instead say "user". This could be the cause of your problems.

Cheers,

Evo2.

Lorax · 12-15-2009, 11:34 PM

Like magic!
Thanks EVO2!!!
I guess I can do this with ANY FAT32? I would only need to specify the "name" of the drive (ie /fat or /xtra) as they appear in fstab???

E D I T: Is this possible with NTFS?

evo2 · 12-15-2009, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorax

Like magic!
I guess I can do this with ANY FAT32? I would only need to specify the "name" of the drive (ie /fat or /xtra) as they appear in fstab???

Yep, any fat32 partition should be fine.

Did you modify your fstab file to change all the instances of "users" to "user"?

Quote:

E D I T: Is this possible with NTFS?

Good question. In the past the writing to NTFS was not possible, however I think it may be possible these days. I guess others may be able to give you a definitive answer.

Cheers,

Evo2.

Lorax · 12-15-2009, 11:56 PM

EVO2 Thank you very much!