[SOLVED] Reset drive mounting software to default

[itamaram]

I have managed to do some damage by following some fishy instructions found on the internet regarding mounting of xp formatted drives/partitions.

I can not recall what I did, or where have I found said instructions. I've ran the instructions, which mounted the drives and gave me read only permission on the files. However, I've realized there is a much better way of doing the same thing.

How do I find out my current settings and/or reverse them?

[Rocket2DMn]

Were you editing your fstab file?
Please post the output of

sudo fdisk -l
cat /etc/fstab
sudo blkid
mount

Please point out the device in question if you know which it is.

[itamaram]

Ok. Just to clarify a few things. I've managed to find the script I've ran earlier. It is located at: http://media.ubuntu-nl.org/scripts/diskmounter
Second, I would like to clarify that I have tried running a second script ntfs-config (found at http://givre.cabsapce.com/ntfs-config ). Also, I've tried to manually edit the fstab manually (by deleting some entries). What I am trying to say, is that I've caused a lot of damage before realizing I should come here for answers. Just saying.

And here is the log of the commands you asked me to run:

johay@johay-desktop:~$ sudo fdisk -l
[sudo] password for johay: 

Disk /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x6f366f36

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1       12748   102398278+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2           12749       30400   141789690    f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5           12749       30400   141789658+   7  HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x12f612f7

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1               1       60045   482311431   83  Linux
/dev/sdb2           60046       60801     6072570    5  Extended
/dev/sdb5           60046       60801     6072538+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
johay@johay-desktop:~$ cat /etc/fstab
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
#  -- This file has been automaticly generated by ntfs-config -- 
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>

proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
johay@johay-desktop:~$ sudo blkid
/dev/sda1: UUID="DE4403AB4403860D" TYPE="ntfs" 
/dev/sda5: UUID="8814AD0F14AD0174" TYPE="ntfs" 
/dev/sdb1: UUID="895e7f49-adca-40c0-ac9a-9429ccf4d8c3" TYPE="ext3" 
/dev/sdb5: TYPE="swap" UUID="8ef7aad8-b635-473f-8c76-3bce5dd2e7f6" 
johay@johay-desktop:~$ mount
/dev/sdb1 on / type ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
/sys on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
varrun on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=0755)
varlock on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=1777)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
devshm on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,gid=5,mode=620)
lrm on /lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw)
securityfs on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/johay/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=johay)

The 2 partitions on the NTFS disk are sda1 and sda5.
Thanks for your help!

[vanadium]

Strange the output of /etc/fstab. You probably made a mistake in posting it, because with the /etc/fstab you list, it would be impossible to start up the system. I am missing two essential entries, which for you should look like

# /dev/sdb1
UUID=895e7f49-adca-40c0-ac9a-9429ccf4d8c3 /               ext3    relatime,errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /dev/sdb5
UUID=8ef7aad8-b635-473f-8c76-3bce5dd2e7f6 none            swap    sw              0       0

These lines would normally follow after the line starting with "proc". This would be the default on a fresh Ubuntu install. Since Hardy, ntfs partitions are not anymore mounted using /etc/fstab, but "on demand" by gnome. You can still mount them via fstab if you prefer that.

[itamaram]

Nope. Got nothing like that. I've verified, and my copy pasting is accurate.
I guess I shouldn't power off then?

[eightmillion]

Definitely not. Do add vanadium's code to your fstab.

# /dev/sdb1
UUID=895e7f49-adca-40c0-ac9a-9429ccf4d8c3 /               ext3    relatime,errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /dev/sdb5
UUID=8ef7aad8-b635-473f-8c76-3bce5dd2e7f6 none            swap    sw              0       0

Where on your filesystem were you planning on mounting your ntfs partitions?

[Rocket2DMn]

Your fstab should probably look something like this:

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
#  -- This file has been automaticly generated by ntfs-config -- 
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>

proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sdb1 (root filesystem)
UUID=895e7f49-adca-40c0-ac9a-9429ccf4d8c3 /               ext3    relatime,errors=remount-ro 0       1
# /dev/sdb5 (swap space)
UUID=8ef7aad8-b635-473f-8c76-3bce5dd2e7f6 none            swap    sw              0       0

# cdrom drive
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

# Now here are the NTFS drives
# /dev/sda1
UUID=DE4403AB4403860D /media/sda1 ntfs-3g defaults,locale=en_US.utf8 0 0
# /dev/sda5
UUID=8814AD0F14AD0174 /media/sda5 ntfs-3g defaults,locale=en_US.utf8 0 0

To initially edit fstab, run

gksudo gedit /etc/fstab

Before mounting and/or restarting, create the mount points that we listed in fstab for the ntfs drives (you may use more creative names, just don't use spaces please)

sudo mkdir /media/sda1 /media/sda5

Now try mounting with

sudo mount -a

If it complains, please post the output back here.

[itamaram]

All right. Did as instructed. I've got the following error message twice (once for each drive):

$LogFile indicates unclean shutdown (0, 0)
Failed to mount '/dev/sda1': Operation not supported
Mount is denied because NTFS is marked to be in use. Choose one action:

Choice 1: If you have Windows then disconnect the external devices by
          clicking on the 'Safely Remove Hardware' icon in the Windows
          taskbar then shutdown Windows cleanly.

Choice 2: If you don't have Windows then you can use the 'force' option for
          your own responsibility. For example type on the command line:

            mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sda1 /media/sda1 -o force

    Or add the option to the relevant row in the /etc/fstab file:

            /dev/sda1 /media/sda1 ntfs-3g force 0 0

Also another small question, whats the difference between gksudo and sudo?

[eightmillion]

If you don't shut down windows properly then the drives will still be marked as in use. That's why you're getting that error.

Also another small question, whats the difference between gksudo and sudo?

Psychocats has a good explanation of the difference between gksudo and sudo.
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/graphicalsudo

[Rocket2DMn]

I recommend rebooting into windows then doing a clean shutdown. Otherwise you can force the mount with

sudo mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sda1 /media/sda1 -o force