Help File Library: Accessing Files on Another Disk Partition from Linux

Written By: NumberOneSlacker

Isn't it impossible to do this?

I simply had to submit this because of a very nasty rumor out there that says a Linux partition and a Windows partition can't see each other

Following these steps should create a doorway to the files on your Windows FAT partition, or whatever other partitions may be on your hard drive.

What I used:

System: Intel
Distribution: Mandrake 6.1
Desktop: KDE

Assumptions:

1. You're on a dual boot system.
2. You know the root password.
3. You know what a "partition" is.
4. You know what an "absolute path" is.
5. You can read.

Procedure:

1. Log on as "root".

2. Create a new folder in the /mnt directory, remember what you named it. Example: /mnt/winhd
Sensei's Note: I use /mnt/windows

3. Add the following line to /etc/fstab:

/dev/hda1 /mnt/winhd auto user,defaults 0 0

Replace "/dev/hda1" with the absolute path to the partition you want to access (on a dual boot with windows installed beforehand, this is usually /dev/hda1) and replace "/mnt/winhd" with the absolute path to that new folder you created in the /mnt directory (remember?)

4. Right mouse click somewhere on the desktop, select new, select "Device" (may say "File System Device" depending on distro)
Sensei's Note: In this case the author is "most likely" referring to KDE from what I remember of using that WindowManager.

5. Give your link a name.
Sensei's Note: name the sucker Win Drive :)

6. Right mouse click on your new icon, click on device tab, and under device, give the absolute path to the partition (/dev/hda1 usually).

7. Give it a mounted and unmounted icon. Better if they're different from each other so you can tell immediately if it somehow got unmounted.

8. Right mouse click on icon again, select "Mount" (if it says "Unmount, skip this step).

9. Click on the Icon, and there ya have it! Everything file in your other partition! Reads it just as if it was a floppy disk.