How to make your USB-stick/hard disk with vfat/ntfs/ext*/jfs/xfs/reiserfs partition writable

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Fat16/32 and ntfs partitions 3 Ext2/3/4, jfs, xfs and reiserfs partitions 4 Changing the permissions 5 Label

Introduction

To be able to write/create files and folders to the USB device we need to make changes to the permissions of the partition.

Fat16/32 and ntfs partitions

For fat16/32 and ntfs partitions this is not necessary as the user who mounts the partition has full access to the device.

As some files/directories can not be written to fat16/32 (for instance names containing ':') it is highly advisable not to use this format. Use ntfs for a Windows <-> Linux compatible format.

Ext2/3/4, jfs, xfs and reiserfs partitions

For ext2, ext3, ext4, jfs, xfs, and reiserfs partitions we need to change the permissions in order to get write access.

Changing the permissions

The permissions can only be changed with administrator privileges.

In Pardus 2008 start System > More Applications > File Manager -Super User Mode.

In Pardus 2009 start Dolphin (administrator mode) with Alt+F2 and enter

kdesu dbus-launch dolphin

and apply the following instructions.

1. Mount partition by selecting [1] the USB device.
2. Right-click in the blank space [2] to get the dialog window.
3. Select the Properties dialog [3].
4. Select the Permissions tab [4].
5. Set [5] Owner: >> Can View & Modify Contents .
6. Set [6] Others: >> Can View & Modify Contents.
7. Set mark here [7] to apply them to all folders and files.
8. Apply changes here [8].

And right-click > Safely Remove the partition at [1].

Label

In order to get a consistent name in Places and mounting point at /media/... set a label for the partition with the program KDE Partition Manager Partition Editor ( in System) or GParted (if installed). See above the "My own label" USB-partition.