Access disk partition EXT2 / 3

Problem

Under gnome, when it mounts a partition formatted as ext2 or ext3, you can not write without being in a session Root (Super Administrator).

And if one wants to change the rights fesant right click and select "Properties"> "Permissions", we see that we must once again be Root.

Solution

To access all the same in writing to the disc, it has 3 options:

• Take Root in handling each file and copy commands with sudo and cp.
• Edit / etc / fstab to allow the user to access current writable disc.
• To change the owner of the disc easily and graphically.

The fstab file

/ Etc / fstab contains information about mount points, file systems, options ... partition of each disk connected to the computer. To access an EXT3 partition without using the root account, you must add the option "user" in the line of partition:
for example:

/ dev/hda2 / media/disque_ext3 ext3 rw, user 0 0


is the line corresponding to the disk / dev/hda2 mounted in / media/disque_ext3.

• Is the EXT3 file system
• Rw option is giving access read / write
• User enables a non-root user to write on the disc.

Before any changes, we will make a backup of the file: type:

sudo cp / etc / fstab / etc / fstab.BAK


To edit the fstab file, you must be root to open it type:

sudo gedit / etc / fstab


add "user" and then save. Normally, you can access the EXT3 partition in writing!

The graphical method

This method will make your user the owner of the disc, allowing you to do what you want it.
For now, the disc is still in Root:

It will open the Disk Root:

sudo nautilus / media/disque_ext3 /

disque_ext3 where is your disk.

Now, the disc opens and everything can change, we will change the owner: right-click the empty space of the case and "properties", we see in the tab "permissions" that we can now change the rights:

put your user in "owner" and "create and delete files" in case access to the file

Then click on "Close" and exit the window of the disk (to exit the Root) and re-open the drive in normal mode ...

You can copy, read, write, etc. on the disk:

Conclusion

So, with these methods, you can normally copy on a partition in EXT2 or EXT3.

• The method to change the fstab file is quick and allows you to change all the options for a partition of a sudden, but requires knowing the correct syntax.
• The graphical method is easier for beginners and there is less risk: The file fstab file is important and a mistake can be dangerous for the system.