is it dangerous to force a mount?

[gusl]

Can anyone explain why XP doesn't offer "Remove Hardware Safely" for my external HD?

When I plug it into Knoppix, it mounts fine, but for read-only. When I unmount and try to mount it as read-write, it fails with approximately this message:

Mount denied because NTFS is marked to be in use. Choose one action:

Choice 1: If you have Windows, disconnect the external devices by clicking on 'Safely Remove Hardware'

Choice 2: you can use the 'force' option for your own responsibility. For example, type:

   mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sdb1 /mnt/sdb1 -o force

Or add the option to the relevant row in the /etc/fstab file:

   /dev/sdb1 /mnt/sdb1 ntfs-3g force 0 0

Is it dangerous for me to force a mount?


also posted here.

Comments

[wjl.livejournal.com]

have you read the google results for ``safely remove hardware''? the first five or so hits seem to be about how to restore the icon when it disappears, or getting by without it.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

ok. Actually the icon was there, but I never realized that.

When I use the icon (or the command: RunDll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL hotplug.dll ), I get the error: "the device 'Generic Volume' cannot be stopped right now". (there are actually 3 options: 'Generic Volume' is just one of them; but the other two give the exact same message)

[wjl.livejournal.com]

weird.. are you running any programs that have files open on the external drive?

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

http://gustavolacerda.livejournal.com/763096.html?thread=2748632#t2748632

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

I suspect a hidden process is accessing the HD.
FileMon would know.

However, turning off the computer seems to be the easiest way to do a safe eject.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

<< turning off the computer seems to be the easiest way to do a safe eject.>>
this worked.