The ONLY thing that bothers me about linux...

[wolfen69]

...is the fact I can't dual boot 2 distros and have an easy way to access the other drive to use files. Why must I have to jump through hoops, take a college level linux course, and get a written permission slip fom Linus from himself before I am allowed to access another linux install? I was thinking about networking my laptop and desktop, but forget that.

I live and breathe linux, advocate it all the time, and can't imagine going back to windows, but this issue really has me pissed off. I can even use a live cd to get info from a linux install, but heaven forbid I should be able to see files I want to from another linux install. Why is it such a hassle? I realize this is probably done for security reasons, but the drives are mine! Ridiculous. I feel better now.

[jpollard]

Say what?

It's done all the time. Just search for "dual boot", and you will find a LOT of
information on how to do it.

Dual booting has been part of Linux since at least 1993 (I used LILO back then).

The basics are just editing the grub configuration file to tell grub where the alternate
boot disks are.

Now if your problem is logical volume labeling, then just lookup "mounting using UUID" and
directions on forcing unique UUIDs on volumes.

[Hlingler]

I don't understand the problem - just mount the partition(s) from one Linux OS in the other. What's the problem ?

V

[wolfen69]

I don't understand the problem - just mount the partition(s) from one Linux OS in the other. What's the problem ?

V

Mounting isn't the problem. The drives mount just fine when I click them. "you do not have the needed permissions" is the problem. After spending 2 hours trying to get them to play nice, I've had enough. I can understand having the right permissions if they are networked, but when both drives are on the same computer, wouldn't that imply that the drives are owned by the same person?

And yes, I know people do it all the time, but it shouldn't have to involve editing fstab and chowning. There is a reason I made my storage partitions ntfs, it's so I wouldn't have to go through this BS to have access to MY files. Not yours, MINE.

[Hlingler]

By default, only root-user can mount [alien] partitions. If you want any user to be able to do so, then add that option to the fstab. Option = users.

I still don't understand the problem - it sounds like you want the OS to somehow know that your normal user is the same as your root-user is the same person who owns the PC and all files on all partitions. This cannot be (in any sane OS with a mere moiety of security).

V

[bob]

Look in the Computer icon. Click on the partition you want to mount, then give your password and .... you're in! I constantly copy/paste to other distros and edit their files on my drives.

[wolfen69]

Look in the Computer icon. Click on the partition you want to mount, then give your password and .... you're in! I constantly copy/paste to other distros and edit their files on my drives.

Yeah, I'm in, but don't have proper permissions to access data in the home folder I'm trying to get stuff from. Why does it allow full access to ntfs or fat32, but not ext4? All drives on the same computer should be accessible to me without doing anything special except putting in a password.

I started a thread for getting help with this in the general section, but no one seems to want to help.

[Dies]

Yeah, I'm in, but don't have proper permissions to access data in the home folder I'm trying to get stuff from. Why does it allow full access to ntfs or fat32, but not ext4? All drives on the same computer should be accessible to me without doing anything special except putting in a password.

I started a thread for getting help with this in the general section, but no one seems to want to help.

So your "solution" is that all filesystems should be as insecure as ntfs and vfat by default? Just allow anyone to read or write to anywhere? hmm...


As far as a more realistic solution goes... look at the permissions for the directory you want to access "ls -la" then either use chmod to allow yourself access or do the proper thing and add yourself to the group.

Most distros use 1000 as the starting uid/gid while Fedora chooses to use 500, if you want compatibility with other distros consider re-doing your account.

[wolfen69]

So your "solution" is that all filesystems should be as insecure as ntfs and vfat by default? Just allow anyone to read or write to anywhere? hmm...


As long as it asks for a password, I don't see a problem with allowing me to see and change my own data.

How could anyone read or write to anywhere if they don't know my password? Anyway, feel free to close this thread, as I have stated my opinion on the matter, and am done.

[Dan]

Per OP request.

Thread closed.