How do I get read/write access to folders Windows typically uses while in Ubuntu?

I recently set up a dual boot with Windows 10 and Ubuntu. Ubuntu has a small partition, and my original plan was to store everything I want to download on Ubuntu in the much larger shared partition. However, trying to move a file from /home/Downloads to /Users/me/Downloads does nothing. Therefore, I want to be able to read and write to folders like the Downloads and Documents folders Windows use while on Ubuntu, and vice versa.

I have tried changing the permissions of the entire shared partition to read/write, and just changing /Users/me/Downloads' permissions. Neither of those worked. I'd greatly appreciate help.

Solution 1:

Setting the permissions right should make it possible for you to read and write to a partition shared with windows, i.e., most likely a partition formatted with the ntfs file system.

So first check whether the drive is correctly mounted and visible. Also report in more detail what happens when you attempt to move files. "does nothing" does not provide very much information on how you tried to move, and how the system reacted on the move.

A very common cause of the impossibility to write to an ntfs partition is that the file system is in an inconsistent state. If that is the case, linux will mount the file system read only, or even refuse to mount it at all.

You therefore need to make sure that the file system is in a consistent state before starting linux.

• Boot into Windows
• Turn off fast start - this is what causes Windows to leave a partition in an inconsistent state during shut down - it is one of the tricks to speed up the startup. Turn this off if you share a drive with another OS.
• Have the drive checked and repaired using the Windows tools
• Fully shut down Windows (each time, no hibernate or sleep state) before starting linux.

That will make sure the ntfs file system is "clean" before linux attempts to mount it.

1) Correct an ntfs drive that is not "clean"

Start up in Windows. Have the drive checked and repaired