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General discussion

problem sharing a FAT32 partition with windows

May 31, 2005 4:21PM PDT

I have windows xp, mandriva linux LE 2005, and a FAT32 partition on the same hard drive. I'm trying to use the FAT32 partition to share between windows and linux. Windows has no problem accessing this partition, but linux does. I have tried using DiskDrake to mount the partition to /mnt/windows/ and then it works! I can access my files. But after i shutdown and restart my computer later, Linux can't access the partition anymore! I've tried doing this under my user account and also as 'root'. Every time i turn on my computer i have to re-do the whole thing again; unmount the partition, mount it again, and then it works. But i know that as soon as i turn my computer off, I'll have to do it again at the next boot. I wonder if anyone knows how to keep this partition accessible forever.

Discussion is locked

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There's your clue.
May 31, 2005 9:09PM PDT

"using DiskDrake to mount the partition to /mnt/windows/ and then it works!"

Think over what DiskDrake does. Maybe issue the mount command? Why not figure out the command line and use that? Or look in fstab?

Just FYI. I don't teach Linux. Only point out a direction for you to explore. In otherwords, no fish.

Bob

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I pick up...
Jun 1, 2005 1:55PM PDT

When you "mount" something, it is only there until you shutdown or unmount.

There is a file in "/etc" called fstab. This file mounts points for you during start-up and has many options.

It's a little tricky, but look up a FAQ, and you will be fine.

Hint:


http://www.tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/fstab.html


-Simon

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I forgot to add.
Jun 1, 2005 8:49PM PDT

After you run diskdrake, use a shell and type mount to show the mounts. Do that before and after drake to see what you added. Then you know what to add to fstab.

Bob

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Okay
Jun 2, 2005 6:22PM PDT

Thanks guys for the help. I am a WinXP user trying to convert to linux. all this "Mount" stuff is confusing, because im used to the letter drive system.