Hey everyone! I've got a WD Elements HDD with an NTFS file system located at /dev/sdb1. Every time I plug it in, it doesn't show up automatically, and I'm stuck running the commands 'sudo ntfsfix /dev/sdb' followed by 'sudo mount /dev/sdb /mnt/user/Elements'. Is there a way to automate this process so I won't have to run those commands manually each time? I'm also considering switching the file system to ext4 using 'sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb1', but I'm concerned since I occasionally use this HDD with Windows. I'm also thinking about writing a .sh script that would check the device's serial number before running the necessary commands. Any advice on how to set this up? Thanks a lot!
2 Answers
You should also consider how you're using the HDD when switching between Linux and Windows. Make sure to scan the filesystem for errors in Windows and use the 'safely remove' option before unplugging it. If Windows is set to Fastboot or Hibernate, it can cause problems with dual booting, so it's best to shut down completely instead of letting it sleep. Just a heads up if you decide to change your file system to ext4, remember that it will erase everything, so back up your data first!
You can actually use the fstab file to set up automatic mounting for your NTFS partition. There's a guide on how to do it that you can check out [here](https://linuxnightly.com/mount-ntfs-partition/). Just make sure to add your drive details properly to avoid issues!
Thanks! I thought fstab was for boot-time mounting. Does it still work for USB devices?
I appreciate the warning! I definitely plan on automating the NTFS fix process since right now, I'm going through a hassle every time I reconnect the drive.