Ok, i have a computer with windows xp professional, and fedora core 2 dual booting. I used to have libranet 2.7 classic and i was able to access my windows partition when it was ntfs. i just restored my computer and now i have fedora core 2 (ext3) and windows xp professional (fat32), and i can not access my files that are on windows xp professional. Can someone tell me how to do this. I am still pretty much a linux noob still.

Thanks

heres where you want to start.

http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/

download the files [its a kernel module/driver] appropriate for your distro AND kernel. install/build the module. modify your fstab [if you want]. mount the partition. there are more detailed instructions on the site to get you started as well.

just be aware that the NTFS volumes will be READ ONLY. you wont be able to write to them.

ive had this working quite nicely on my FC1 box at work for some time now.

I have my partition in fat32, and i also need to know how to mount it.

oh, sorry. i figured since you were using XP, you would have been using NTFS.

you shouldnt have too many problems mounting a fat32. should look something like this....

$ mount -t vfat /dev/hdXN /mnt/windows

you may want to look at the mount options [ -o ] in the man mount. you might want to make the filesystem avalible to all users or read only [ -o ro ] or something like that. see man mount for the mount options.

where X is your volume letter [hda, hdb, hdc, etc] and N is the partition number. [ you can probably find out using cfdisk -l or fdisk -l as root ] .

Also, a useful thing to have is them mount at boot. To do this just add a line or two to the fstab /ect/fstab/ is where it's located on my machine. Here's my lines to get the fat32 drives mounting.

/dev/hda5 /mnt/Music vfat users,rw,owner,umask=000 0 0

rw is for read and write, if you want only read access change it to ro. Make sure you have the mount point created before you try to mount.

Thanks, I can now access all my mp3's, movie's, etc.... on my windows partition!!!!

I'm ultimately frustrated with this OS. I'm looking for options in a world lacking legitimate choices for OS platforms. Windows 98 is no longer valid for my needs...Windows XP is almost as worthless as Windows ME, and getting worse by the Service Pack...Mac's OS is too restrictive (and as illogical as Linux)...and Linux is not an End-User platform. I swore I'd never use this thing again because of the insane issues I ran into the first time I tried to set up a Linux box. However, for some reason I want Linux to work.

I want to be able to leave Windows behind without having to scrap my $1000 PC and buy a dumbed down Mac (and full compliment of software). I' really want this thing to work. I need someone to show me how this platform can become useful, allowing me to effectively use my PC without Bill Gates and his demonic cronies telling me where to keep files and how to maintain my programs. So far I can barely make this %^&$@^ thing dial the internet.

The last time I installed RedHat I was able to quickly and easily mount my Windows partitions. I recall a GUI application of some sort that allowed it. Perhaps I did have to go to the Terminal to mount them and the GUI interface was to view the mountings (as is the case now), but that's not my recollection. If there's a GUI method that will allow me to bypass the confounding Terminal, please let me know.

I attempted to use the mount command without altering /etc/fstab (mount -t vfat /dev/hda6 /storage) without any success. I did a Google search and found this incredibly helpful community. However, after over an hour of failed attempts and browsing these forums I have the same issue...I can't mount my Windows partitions.

The System Info (Hardware Browser):
HDA1 (C: OS) FAT32 5GB
HDA2 (Extended)
HDA5 (D: Programs) FAT32 25GB
HDA6 (E: Storage) FAT32 80GB
HDA7 (RHat) EXT3 102MB
HDA8 (RHat) EXT3 7GB
HDA9 (RHat) Swap 510MB

/etc/fstab:
LABEL=/ / ext3 defaults 1 1
LABEL=/boot /boot ext3 defaults 1 2
none /dev/pts devpts gid=5,mode=620 0 0
none /dev/shm tmpfs defaults 0 0
none /proc proc defaults 0 0
none /sys sysfs defaults 0 0
/dev/hda9 swap swap defaults 0 0
/dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom udf,iso9660 noauto,owner,kudzu,ro 0 0
/dev/cdrom1 /mnt/cdrom1 udf,iso9660 noauto,owner,kudzu,ro 0 0
/dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy auto noauto,owner,kudzu 0 0
/dev/hda6 /mnt/storage vfat defaults,umask=000 0 0

I've used several different lines for the /dev/hda6 entry...I've tried fat32 for the file system, I've tried the exact same mounting options listed in this thread, I've tried options from several other threads, and I've reboot between changes to the /etc/fstab file. The OS can't mount the volume on boot, and I always get the same response when I try to mount the device through the Terminal.

"mount /dev/hda6" yields "mount point /mnt/storage does not exist"
"mount dev/hda6" yields "can't find dev/hda6 in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab"
"mount /mnt/storage" yields "mount point /mnt/storage does not exist"
"mount mnt/storage" yields "can't find dev/hda6 in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab"
"mount -t vfat /dev/hda6 /mnt/storage" yields "mount point /mnt/storage does not exist"
"mount -t fat32 /dev/hda6 /mnt/storage" yields "mount point /mnt/storage does not exist"
"mount -t vfat /dev/hda6 /storage" yields "mount point /storage does not exist"

I've followed all the rules and syntax...why the hell does this OS work for everyone else but me? A better question, why did I even think it was worth a second try in the first place?

This is because the mount point does not exist. Under a terminal, type 'su' followed by your root password. Then create the mount points by typing 'mkdir /mnt/storage' Then retry typing mount -t vfat /dev/hda6 /mnt/storage