In today’s article, we will delve into the process of enabling NTFS write support in Ubuntu 18.04. This can be a crucial step for those who are using a dual-boot system with Windows and Ubuntu, as NTFS is the default file system for Windows. By default, Ubuntu can read NTFS drives but cannot write to them. Let’s change that.
To enable NTFS write support in Ubuntu 18.04, you need to check the mount mode of the NTFS partition, fix any read-only issues in Windows, edit the /etc/fstab file to include the rw option, and remount the partitions. After following these steps, your NTFS partitions should have write support enabled.
Checking the NTFS Partition Mount Mode
Before we begin, it’s essential to check if your NTFS partition is mounted in read-only mode. Open your terminal and type in the following command:
mount | grep sda3Replace sda3 with your specific partition. If the output shows “ro,” it signifies that the partition is mounted as read-only.
Dealing with Read-Only Partitions
If your partition is mounted as read-only, it could be due to Windows’ fast startup feature. Even if you have disabled it, there might be a corrupted file system on the partition. Therefore, you should run a file system check on the partition from within Windows. You can follow the instructions in this guide: How to Run the Chkdsk Utility in Windows XP.
Remounting the Partition in Ubuntu
Once you have fixed any file system errors in Windows, you can try remounting the partition in Ubuntu. This process involves editing the /etc/fstab file. Open a terminal and run the command:
sudo nano /etc/fstabThis command opens the fstab file in the Nano text editor. The sudo command is used to execute the command as a super user, which is necessary because the fstab file is a system file.
Editing the /etc/fstab File
In the /etc/fstab file, locate the lines corresponding to your NTFS partitions. They should look similar to the following:
/dev/disk/by-uuid/162451E92451CC7D /mnt/162451E92451CC7D auto nosuid,nodev,nofail,x-gvfs-show 0 0
/dev/disk/by-uuid/B696F3C596F38461 /mnt/B696F3C596F38461 auto nosuid,nodev,nofail,x-gvfs-show 0 0The nosuid and nodev options are security measures that prevent the execution of setuid programs and block device files on this filesystem, respectively. The nofail option allows the system to boot up even if this mount point is not available. The x-gvfs-show option makes the partition visible in the file manager.
Modify these lines to include the rw (read-write) option. The modified lines should look like this:
/dev/disk/by-uuid/162451E92451CC7D /mnt/162451E92451CC7D auto rw,nosuid,nodev,nofail,x-gvfs-show 0 0
/dev/disk/by-uuid/B696F3C596F38461 /mnt/B696F3C596F38461 auto rw,nosuid,nodev,nofail,x-gvfs-show 0 0The rw option enables the read-write mode for the partition.
Applying the Changes
After modifying the /etc/fstab file, save the changes and exit the text editor. Finally, remount the partitions by running the command:
sudo mount -aThis command mounts all filesystems mentioned in the fstab file.
After following these steps, your NTFS partitions should be mounted with write support enabled. You should be able to write to the partitions without any issues.
Note: It is recommended to backup your important data before making any changes to the file system.
This concludes our guide on enabling NTFS write support on Ubuntu 18.04. We hope you found this article helpful, and we look forward to bringing you more in-depth guides in the future.
Yes, you can enable NTFS write support in Ubuntu 18.04 by following the steps outlined in this article.
NTFS write support is disabled by default in Ubuntu due to potential risks of data corruption when writing to NTFS partitions. However, with proper precautions and following the steps mentioned in this article, you can safely enable NTFS write support.
You can check if your NTFS partition is mounted in read-only mode by opening a terminal and running the command "mount | grep [partition]". Replace [partition] with the specific partition you want to check. If the output shows "ro," it means the partition is mounted as read-only.
If your NTFS partition is mounted as read-only, it could be due to Windows’ fast startup feature or a corrupted file system. You should run a file system check on the partition from within Windows to fix any errors. Please refer to the guide mentioned in this article for instructions on running the Chkdsk utility in Windows.
To remount the NTFS partition in Ubuntu, you need to edit the "/etc/fstab" file. Open a terminal and run the command "sudo nano /etc/fstab" to open the file in the Nano text editor. Then, modify the lines corresponding to your NTFS partitions to include the "rw" (read-write) option. Save the changes and exit the text editor. Finally, remount the partitions by running the command "sudo mount -a".
Yes, it is highly recommended to backup your important data before making any changes to the file system. Although the steps mentioned in this article are generally safe, it’s always better to be cautious and have a backup in case of any unforeseen issues.
Enabling NTFS write support in Ubuntu should not affect your Windows installation. However, it’s always a good practice to be cautious and ensure that you have a backup of your important files before making any changes to the file system.
Yes, after enabling NTFS write support, you should be able to write to NTFS drives in Ubuntu without any issues. Make sure to follow the steps mentioned in this article carefully to ensure the proper configuration of the NTFS partitions.
