PDA

View Full Version : [ubuntu] xp dual boot ntfs mount problem



michael.j.jacobsen
February 21st, 2009, 07:52 PM
I am running a dual boot Ubuntu 8.10 / XP on my laptop and since updating from 8.04 I suddenly cant mount any ntfs partitions with my files on it or ntfs usb hard drives. I have read other posts but cant get anywhere.
Initially whenever i tried to mount any ntfs drive I got an error message telling me to go back into windows and safely remove the drive or force mount it. Now after some fidling with NTFS configuration tool and trying terminal commands I am told I cant access the partition with my files on it because I am not privilidged to mount it. I still get the force mount error on my usb hard drive.

the fdisk output is

Disk /dev/sda: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x26d126d0

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 3919 31479336 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 3920 30401 212716665 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 3920 4860 7558551 bc Unknown
/dev/sda6 4861 28346 188651261+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda7 28347 30309 15767766 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 30310 30401 738958+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris
michael@michael-laptop:~$

sda1 seems to be my c: drive with windows and program files on it.
sda6 is the partition I need to mount with my personal files on it, no programs.
sda5 is I think my accronis secure zone with backups on it but i'm not sure.

I'm a little new to terminals and stuff.

dstew
February 21st, 2009, 09:21 PM
Have you tried to mount the partition using the command line? If not, open a terminal window (I am not sure about 8.10, but in 8.04 it is in Applications --> Accessories --> Terminal). You need to first create a mount point for the partition, which is just a directory:
sudo mkdir /mnt/storageOf course you can give it a name other than "storage" if you want. Then, try to mount the partition to the mount point:
sudo mount -t ntfs /dev/sda6 /mnt/storagePost to the forum any error messages you get. If you are successful, you should be able to see the directory of the storage partition:
ls -l /mnt/storage

michael.j.jacobsen
February 21st, 2009, 09:35 PM
Tried to mount from terminal but no joy again

michael@michael-laptop:~$ sudo mkdir /mnt/files
[sudo] password for michael:
michael@michael-laptop:~$ sudo mount -t ntfs /dev/sda6 /mnt/files
$LogFile indicates unclean shutdown (0, 0)
Failed to mount '/dev/sda6': 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/sda6 /mnt/files -o force

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

/dev/sda6 /mnt/files ntfs-3g force 0 0
michael@michael-laptop:~$

michael.j.jacobsen
February 21st, 2009, 09:44 PM
Ahhhhh Success. with my partition at least. had to reforce the mount and restart. will keep fidling with usb drive. thanks for help

dstew
February 21st, 2009, 09:48 PM
It could be there is something wrong with the file system on that partition. You should go into Windows and run a file system check on it. The Windows XP command is chkdsk (http://www.updatexp.com/windows-xp-chkdsk.html). If the partition in question is d:, the command would be
chkdsk d: