Score:-4

When using Ubuntu live CD, files and folders cannot be copied or moved due to permissions

us flag

I want to use an Ubuntu live CD and copy a folder between my two Windows hard disks.

However, I get an error saying that I don't have permission to do it.

How can I do this?

cocomac avatar
cn flag
Does prefixing the command with `sudo` work? E.g., `sudo cp …`?
Greenonline avatar
us flag
If using the GUI to copy files, then you may have permissions issues. Try using `nautilus-admin` instead, see the comments to [this answer](https://askubuntu.com/a/916543/348964). However, if using the the LiveCD then parts of the filesystem could be read only (I'm not sure about that though), but it shouldn't affect the Windows partitions... How are they formatted, NTFS, of FAT?
Mr Pubzz avatar
us flag
NTFS. if i installed ubuntu my pc,then i can cut and copy without any issue
sudodus avatar
jp flag
If Windows uses Fast Startup, it is semi-hibernated, and its file system is 'dirty', and Linux mounts it read-only to avoid causing damage. Either reboot Windows (instead of shutdown) or turn off Fast Startup (a setting in Windows), and Linux is willing to mount the Windows file system with write access. See also [this link](https://askubuntu.com/questions/11840/how-do-i-use-chmod-on-an-ntfs-or-fat32-partition/956072#956072) about mount options to set permissions and ownership of Microsoft file systems.
Score:1
id flag

It's not a great question for this site as it doesn't have much to do with Ubuntu, but I guess you are planning on using a live Ubuntu session so I'll try to answer. I can do this from a dual boot computer (ie manipulate files in the Windows partition and a separate Windows drive) - I've not specifically tried it in a live session with 2 Windows drives but I think it will work. I'm not sure why you would want to do this this way but that's none of my business!

You need to mount your two windows partitions in read write, not read only mode (which is the default). It will only allow you to do this if your Windows system has shut down completely and is not hibernating - you must disable fast start up.

(To disable fast start up from Windows, click on start / settings / system / Power and sleep settings / Additional power settings / Choose what the power buttons do / Change settings that are currently unavailable / uncheck the box allowing fast start-up)

If you can't disable fast start-up (ie if you can't get into Windows), Ubuntu won't let you write to the disk / partition as it is considered in an unsafe state - so you will only have read access.

Then start a live Ubuntu usb session (I assume you know how to do that but post if not).

Once you're in the live session, identify your Windows (NTFS) hard drives' current mount points: open a terminal (ctrl-alt-T) and type df. You should be able to identify the hard drive letters (my windows partition is /dev/sdb3).

If it's mounted, I think best to unmount it first (I think you can do a remount command, ie unmount and remount all in one go but I'm more confident unmounting and mounting again manually): mine is mounted in /media/will/OS so I unmount by typing

sudo umount /media/will/OS

You should then be able to mount in read write mode; first create the mount point (sudo mkdir /media/MrPubzz/Windisk1 for example)

Then mount it as read write: sudo mount -o rw /dev/sdb3 /media/MrPubzz/Windisk1

Do the same for your other drive with a different mount point (eg /media/MrPubzz/Windisk2)

You should then be able to read / write access to both and copy / delete files on either disk with Nautilus or the command line.

Thanks to sudodus for confirming that this should work from a live session.

sudodus avatar
jp flag
"I can do this from a dual boot computer (ie manipulate files in the Windows partition and a separate Windows drive) - I've not specifically tried it in a live session with 2 Windows drives but I think it will work." - *Yes, this should work*. Most [but not all] things that work with an installed system work with a live system and vice versa. (For example, installing a proprietary hardware driver for graphics does not work in a live system. Upgrading the kernel (with apt like in an installed system) does not work in a live system.)
Will avatar
id flag
@sudodus, thank you - I’ll edit my response.
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