I notice that I can't move or delete files on my Windows partition from within Linux (although, of course, they can be read). Is there any way to give Linux more access?

What is the file format of your windows Partition? Is it FAT or NTFS? If it is NTFS then I think you can only read and won't be able to write (although I'm not 100% sure on this)
- Jack

Is it NTFS or FAT? Did you try editing/moving/deleting as root?

If you can do it as root, then edit /etc/fstab and add "users" to the options of the partition.

I don't know if that works with NTFS though...

As an alternative, I would suggest moving your shared files (between Linux and Windows) onto a partition formatted with FAT32 if you are running NTFS (the default format for WindowsXP).

[EDIT: Added alternative suggestion]

These instructions are for Ubuntu, but they should work for any distribution (just ignore the sudo stuff and use root or su):

http://ubuntuguide.org/#automountntfs
http://ubuntuguide.org/#automountfat

I think it is the current policy of Linux not to write on a NTFS partition and that got nothing to do with privilege.

Any system data from WIndows has no use in Linux. Users having a problem are those who mix their personal data with the operating system. It is a lot safer to store the personal data in a neutral partition. Never let an operating system to down with your own work.

As already pointed out one can always read data from a NTFS partition and leave the amended data in a FAT32 partition for Windows to get it back.

It can be very dangerous to change NTFS partition because XP and Win2k store their system data.

For example partition type 7 is NTFS but 17 is hidden NTFS. The latter will not be mounted by XP/Win2k but Linux can mount and see it. What's more all the XP/Win2K hidden files are fully visible in Linux.

"It is a lot safer to store the personal data in a neutral partition. Never let an operating system to down with your own work."

I wish I had thought of that seven years ago, when I received my first modern (Windows 95) computer. Within a few weeks of my copying all my high school notes to the HD, my entire corpus of notes from one much-loved class mysteriously disappeared. I think I've been angry with Windows ever since.

One side effect of integrating the user's personal data with the operating sysytem is that a user does not need to know where the data has been stored and gradually becomes incapable of finding where his/her data located in the directories - a good tactic to ensure the survival of the operating system that cannot openly compete on technical merits or cost.