Hi, I'm new to this forums. I Have read the rules.. and I couldn't find solution to my problem so I decided to make an account here. While I see there is a separate section for Debian Linux, which I think is more suitable for my distribution? but I felt like my problem is more like a general problem so even users of other distributions should be able to help me out with a bit of difference in code.

I installed Kali linux just yesterday making a dual boot. My other (main) OS is windows 10.

I have two problems here. Both are somewhat related/similar.

1. Unable to write/copy/paste data to NTFS partitions.
For example, when I right click in there, "New folder", "Paste" options are grayed out - they won't allow me to use those.

I tried different things for this. Like installing some ntfs-3g tool and some fuse tool.
There were instructions regarding these in a web, I'm not sure I'm allowed to link. Anyway I installed those, ran the following instructions in terminal:
mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sda4 /mnt/ntfs

sda4 and sda2 are my NTFS associated partitions.
I got the following text back:
Mount is denied because the NTFS volume is already exclusively opened. The volume may be already mounted, or another software may use it which could be identified for example by the use of 'fuser' command.
I'm not sure how to fix. I'm entirely new to Kali, and I don't even know how to run some basic commands- like how to use fuser as mentioned here. But I'm learning through stuff.

This could be fixed by formatting the drive to Exfat but I can't do it because there is data/OS in the partitions. Please help me out here. I'm stuck.

2nd problem:
For this one I'm not sure it's the right place but I think both are interrelated so I'm just going to mention.

For the partition I installed Linux OS in, I'm not able to even see it in Windows 10. If I could read/write in it also from Windows 10 that would be good.

Detailed, step-wise and simplified instructions would be extremely appreciated. A newbie here. Many thanks.

If you are using Kali, you should know how to fix it. Why have you not read the sticky at the top of this forum ?

I suggest you do.

I just did. I still think that stickied thread you're referring to is like general in nature. It's true but not necessarily. My problem I'm facing is a basic problem, found in other distributions as well. Kali or Ubuntu, I'd have stood same on either one of them. You could at least try giving a suggestion or something.

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Welcome to linuxquestions.

By default When you shutdown Windows it actually hibernates. Until you perform full windows shutdown you can't write.

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So, why didn't you read it before you posted?

It's meant to be general in nature.

That doesn't make sense, it's one or the other. Which is it?

Then if it's a basic problem, why can't you solve it? Once again, if you're using Kali, you should know how to solve a basic problem.

I don't waste my time with helping people that should not be using Kali to begin with. It's own developers say you should not be using it. Did you even read its website ?

I'll just repeat what I said I guess, cause you just sort of did.
I'm using Kali for a purpose, I'm currently enrolled in some course that makes you use it so even without background information on linux OS's I have to use it, I'm just saying even though I don't owe you that explanation.

Everyone everywhere has my problem. But in those other websites I can't tell them what I get after doing certain commands because I'm not in there and hence this is why I joined this website.

"If it's a basic problem, why can't you solve it?"
Because basic problems are meant to be solved by everyone? That's the law? The chances are, the way I installed Kali, even if I installed Ubuntu, I would have had same problem, but no, since I'm using Kali, I'm supposed to be the expert guy here, because there is no room for having errors while using Kali.
"I don't waste my time with helping people that should not be using Kali to begin with"
Well, apparently you do waste your time with NOT helping people that are using Kali but aren't supposed to (aren't supposed to - by your definition so)
"It's own developers say you shouldn't be using it"
Now you sound like some student who wants to bring in change with the education system. I read this argument once that the person who invented MCQ's said these are not to be used. But guess what? those are standards and are used everywhere. So is Kali LInux. Go tell its developers it gets things done other distributions can't. So its errors are to be discussed and solved so we could make the most of it.

"Did you even read its website?"
So before I ask for help, I'm also supposed to go check the opinions of developers for the OS I already have installed and intend to use, and see what its website has to say regarding its use with respect to errors. Why would I even consider that when I just have to have it.

@michaelk: Thanks! and I believe you're right. Last night I restarted my computer and it sort of worked? but now it didn't? I'm not sure what's going on in here. Also my win10, when I use it and turn it off - it won't turn off now. So I have to force the computer to shut down to be able to use linux. Turning off by command just takes me back to the standby screen asking for username/pass. I believe I didn't have this win10 not turning off issue before.

Edit: I disabled Fast Startup from windows 10 and upon this restart the problem seems to be fixed.
Can anyone tell if we can access Linux OS files and other data in the OS partition - like downloads, desktop etc for example, on windows 10? The partition just seems invisible there.

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those are usually found on the website of the distro you are installing.

though somehow i doubt that kali folks have a howto to "install alongside windows 10 with r/w access to ntfs partitions" - which brings us back to jsbjsb000's obnoxious criticism. however newbie-friendly or -unfriendly you phrase it, there's no way around it: use kali linux as intended, from a live usb stick, if you must, and be aware that it requires previous linux and networking knowledge.

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what you wrote is not valid at all. Kali is not for beginners, it is well explained several times on several places. Kali is not a regular distribution and Kali is not meant to use as (for example) ubuntu. Most probably your problem can be better-faster solved on ubuntu, because Kali is not really suitable for dual boot (together with windows).
From the other hand you need to explain your problem much better - instead of discussing Kali.
1. you need to shut down windows properly (no standby, no hibernate or other fancy tricks) to be able to use windows partitions from linux.
2. would be better to use one (or more) partition for linux, another one for windows and again a third one for common things.
3. if you want to read linux partitions from windows you need to install something like extfstool on windows. see here: https://www.howtogeek.com/112888/3-w...-from-windows/
(I do not really understand why do you need to use kali, but it is actually not important).

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You could try mounting it with the umask flag.

# mount -o umask=0000 /dev/sda1 /mnt/ntfs

Umask is the permissions you don't want. So 0000 is give me 0777 (in theory). By default write is disabled, or at least it used to be. Use at your own risk. You should still be able to copy, just not paste, at least not paste on NTFS. Although you likely need the fuse type stuff for write support (might not be installed by default, or available in your distro).

$ man fuse

$ less /etc/fuse.conf

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Thank you guys, I really appreciate you helping me out here. And it's credit to your help I was able to solve both the problems (it appears so).

After disabling Fast Startup on windows 10, I used both the OS a couple of times, and so far I haven't encountered the not being able to write into NTFS Drives problem. And also windows 10 shuts down just fine now.

And I referred to that link @pan64. Ext2fsd was not able to solve my problem, under the settings, normally it should allow one to tick "permanently mount...." checkbox when assigning letter to partition, but it didn't work for me. I used the Ext2explore and it's good to go. Also, For windows OS I'm using separate partition, for Linux OS a separate one, and another one for data in common, like you mentioned.

@Shadow_7: Thanks but as I'm able to write now, I'm just going to skip that out for the time being, but if I have the problem again I'll definitely dug deeper into the issue with what you said.

Also I really appreciate you guys telling me about kali in general, I was definitely not aware of the things you mentioned about it. So it's not suitable for dual-boot, and live usb is a better option? I see. But for the time being, it's working for me fine, so I'm going to stick to it.

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Windows does not generally assign a drive letter to non-windows partitions so that is expected behavior. I'm wondering how much research you did before beginning because the Kali documentation site at the link below has a tutorial on dual booting with windows. Another option would have been to use Kali on a usb with persistence which is also explained at the link below or doing a full install to a usb. You would need some familiarity with Linux drive/naming conventions to do this successfully. I'm surprised that whoever is running the class you are taking didn't mention these options.

https://docs.kali.org/

@OP: Kali is a very specialized distro for professional use. (That has been said before) But you say you follow a course which requires the use of Kali. That is fine, can happen. But does this course require you to dual-boot with W10? And most important overall, why does your specialized course require you to access the W10 NTFS partition?

Even if you were not using Kali, accessing a W10 partition is very dangerous. See, due to W10 obfuscation you never know if W10 is sleeping, hibernating or powered off. The Microsoft folks just don't want you to notice. Heck, many W10 installations totally hide the poweroff command.

So if you access a NTFS partition on a sleeping or hibernating W10 installation it is a disaster ready to happen. I would recommend strongly against it, in any distro.

jlinkels

nobody said that.yes, it's how kali is intended to be used.
mind you, installing and dual booting is possible, but reading the docs on their pages should have been your first step in any case.

this.

and also:

https://docs.kali.org/introduction/s...use-kali-linux

thank you so much! this made my day! I have also been wondering why this occasional restriction as it does not happen all the time.