NTFS Partitions

WayneS · 09-02-2006, 06:36 PM

I added the NTFS partitions to be visible in Linux. When I go to them, it says "Failed to read folder".

Can I fix this or do I have to reinstall?

Also, my mouse wheel dont work, any ideas?

Thanks!

[EDIT] I figured out the partition problem. Only root can mount them. Can I set it so that I dont have to be logged in as root to mount the partitions?

drkstr · 09-02-2006, 06:47 PM

You will need to set the uid and umask permissions in the fstab. 'man mount' should get you the info you need. Just post back if you are still having trouble.

regards,
...drkstr

masonm · 09-02-2006, 07:39 PM

/dev/hda1 /windows ntfs user,umask=0000 1 0

Bruce Hill · 09-02-2006, 07:50 PM

Welcome to LQ!

Quote:

Originally posted by WayneS:
my mouse wheel dont work

Assuming you mean it doesn't scroll?

Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf under the Section "InputDevice"
you will need these two lines:

Code:

    Option         "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4  5"

and the rodent's wheel with scroll.

Another cool thing in *nix is the gpm mouse server. This will
allow you to drag over text with the left mouse button, which
highlights that text; then go somewhere else (even another app)
and click the scroll wheel (middle button) and paste that text.

So, you see, there might be several ways in *nix that your
mouse's wheel doesn't work...

Bruce Hill · 09-02-2006, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by masonm
/dev/hda1 /windows ntfs user,umask=0000 1 0

I'd like to mention this might not be safe ... it just depends.

That line above is going to mount your filesystem like this:

Code:

/dev/hda1 on /windows type ntfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,umask=0000)

With the Linux kernel, writing to NTFS filesystems is not yet stable.
If you are aware of the dangers, and prepared to write to the system,
then use that line.

If not, I would suggest you change it to something like this:

Code:

/dev/sda1        /WinXP           ntfs        users,umask=1000,ro,auto  1   0

which I use, and will mount it like this:

Code:

/dev/sda1 on /WinXP type ntfs (ro,noexec,nosuid,nodev,umask=1000)

It will be mounted ro (read-only), automatically mounted when you boot
your system, and any user (users) can unmount it, rather than just the
user who mounted it.

NB: Some Slackware provided kernels do not have NTFS write capablility
compiled by default, where others do:

Code:

mingdao@paul:~$ cat /backup2/Slackware-10.2/kernels/bare.i/config | grep -i ntfs                                                           
CONFIG_NTFS_FS=m
# CONFIG_NTFS_RW is not set
mingdao@paul:~$ cat /backup2/ftp/pub/Linux/Slackware/slackware-current/kernels/sata.i/config | grep -i ntfs                                
CONFIG_NTFS_FS=m
# CONFIG_NTFS_RW is not set
mingdao@paul:~$ cat /backup2/ftp/pub/Linux/Slackware/slackware-current/extra/source/linux-2.6.17.11/config-generic-2.6.17.11 | grep -i ntfs
CONFIG_NTFS_FS=m
# CONFIG_NTFS_DEBUG is not set
CONFIG_NTFS_RW=y

I didn't go back further than the default Slackware-10.2 kernel; and
you can see that the default Slackware-11.0 RC3 kernel does not have
rw (read/write) compiled. But the Slackware-11.0 RC3 2.6.11.17 kernel
in extra/ does.

Still, this falls under 'good practices' for *nix systems to specify
the perms in /etc/fstab.

masonm · 09-02-2006, 08:41 PM

Good point Bruce. my bad. You really should mount it ro to avoid trashing your windows partition with a bad write. I have been tinkering with ntfs writing and forgot to edit that line when I posted it.

WayneS · 09-03-2006, 07:43 AM

Thanks for the replys... I'll try your suggestions.

WayneS · 09-03-2006, 07:55 AM

Forgive me for my "newness", but I cant find where to add the line:

/dev/sda1 /WinXP ntfs users,umask=1000,ro,auto 1 0

in xorg.conf.

Where should I put it?

Thanks again.

PsychoticDude85 · 09-03-2006, 08:03 AM

That line should go in /etc/fstab, not xorg.conf. (also make sure you actually want to mount /dev/sda1 and that you want it to mount to /WinXP)

Bruce Hill · 09-03-2006, 08:30 AM

WayneS,

We might be leaving out small details.

You do edit /etc/fstab the file already has a line that you
simply need to change. If you will post the output of your
/etc/fstab file, we'll tell you exactly how to change it.

Just open a terminal, maybe using konsole, and type
cat /etc/fstab
and then press Enter.

You can then copy and paste that output in here.

WayneS · 09-03-2006, 09:03 AM

Heres the file...

/dev/hda7 / reiserfs defaults 1 1
/dev/hda1 /fat-c ntfs ro 1 0
/dev/hda5 /fat-d ntfs ro 1 0
/dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom auto noauto,owner,ro 0 0
/dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy auto noauto,owner 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts gid=5,mode=620 0 0
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0

Thanks for the help. I am looking forward to learning all of this stuff.

sv452 · 09-03-2006, 09:22 AM

hi all,

i have 5 ntfs mounts and i want them to be read/write for anyone on my linux(ubuntu) box, but from what i gather one is not supposed to make ntfs write. how come?

and to make it totally accesable will "/dev/hda1 /windows ntfs user,umask=0000 1 0" that work??

Thank you

SV452

Bruce Hill · 09-03-2006, 09:42 AM

Change these two lines:

Code:

/dev/hda1 /fat-c ntfs ro 1 0
/dev/hda5 /fat-d ntfs ro 1 0

to

Code:

/dev/hda1 /fat-c ntfs users,umask=1000,ro,auto 1 0
/dev/hda5 /fat-d ntfs users,umask=1000,ro,auto 1 0

Now, how do you change them?

In that terminal you type "pico /etc/fstab" without the quotes,
and press Enter. Then you can backspace and delete and type
just like you're used to doing. When you finish changing these
lines, enter "Ctrl+X" to exit, then "Y" to save the buffer, then
"Enter" to save it as the filename which you opened.

Afterwards you need to unmount and then remount those partitions.
You will use the same terminal (konsole or whatever) and issue as
root "umount /fat-c && umount /fat-d" without the quotes. That
will unmount (umount) them both at one time. Then you need to
mount them. You can issue "mount -a" as root and it will mount
them. Afterwards you issue "mount" and that command will show
you what is mounted.

It should have something like this for your ntfs drives:

Code:

/dev/hda1 on /fat-c type ntfs (ro,noexec,nosuid,nodev,umask=1000)
/dev/hda1 on /fat-d type ntfs (ro,noexec,nosuid,nodev,umask=1000)

And now, for the lagniappe you were hoping to get.

Quote:

Originally posted by WayneS
I am looking forward to learning all of this stuff.

Some good starting places:

Introduction to Linux
I couldn't get to her server for some reason, but that address is:
http://tille.xalasys.com/training/tldp/index.html

Steve-Parker.Org - 11.Linux
start there and then read his Bash shell scripting tutorial here:
http://steve-parker.org/sh/sh.shtml

masonm · 09-03-2006, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sv452

hi all,

i have 5 ntfs mounts and i want them to be read/write for anyone on my linux(ubuntu) box, but from what i gather one is not supposed to make ntfs write. how come?

and to make it totally accesable will "/dev/hda1 /windows ntfs user,umask=0000 1 0" that work??

Thank you

SV452

As Bruce already correctly pointed out ntfs writing in Linux is still experimental and somewhat unstable. You run the risk of trashing your ntfs partitions by allowing write functions to them from Linux.

I have been tinkering around with ntfs write and have experienced some problems, so I can attest to the fact that it is not yet stable enough to allow as a normal practice. I've had to restore that partition three times already.

Write to ntfs at your own risk, as you have been warned.

totoro_dth · 09-03-2006, 10:29 AM

You should create a vfat partition if you want to share data between your Linux and Windows. AFAIK, writing to NTFS partition is not fully supported in Linux, so do it at your risk. ^_^