can't access or copy to new Hard Drive

It's probably mounted read only. Could you copy the contents of the /etc/fstab file so I can see it?

I don't know much of how Linux sys works, i really need to study but sometimes other things take priority; like the other hard drive is full.
I don't know how to find the file "/etc/fstab"

ok, i found "file System" and i found "etc" but where do i go from here?

I just added an external HD besides the internal one. when i go to properties of each of these, under permissions, they both only have 'read' and not 'write' or 'execute' When i try to put a check in the open boxes, an error message tells me 'sorry charlie but u can't do it'

when i try to drag a file over to the external hd, it says: "error while copying to /media/i --- you do not have permission to write to this folder"

and i get the same error message when i try to copy some file to extra internal HD

ok, i opened 'properties' of new 'i' drive , external HD, under 'permissions' and it said the following when i tried to make a check in the box for 'write' as 'owner': error said: 'couldn't change permissions because it's a 'read-only disk.

In the terminal (applications - > accessories -> terminal) type "gedit /etc/fstab" then copy and paste the text to a comment box on this page.

/dev/hda1 /boot ext3 defaults 0 2 #size=100
/dev/hda2 none swap sw 0 0 #size=250
/dev/hda3 / ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1 #size=remaining
/dev/fd0 /floppy auto defaults,user,noauto 0 0
/dev/cdrom /cdrom iso9660 defaults,ro,user,noauto 0 0
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0

solved problem of added internal HD; but still need help on external HD, because it is an Acomdata product and it's using Windows NTFS file system. When i turn on HD it shows icon on desktop, but acts like 'read only' drive. Does anybody know how to make this HD work in the Linux system [Ubuntu Dapper]? thanx, Brian

Writing to NTFS is something that isn't reccomended or supported. Personally I haven't tried it but some people though have had success following this tutorial: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MountingWindowsPartitions#head-fb8716b5d667b443f5dda66c63dd39375260a9d9

Hi Dean, i'm sorry to have to bother you but i've tried over and over
again for hrs trying to use Terminal and get read and write access to
this hd. As far as i got was:

oem@freekbox:~$ bash:~$ sudo ntfsmount
bash: bash:~$: command not found
oem@freekbox:~$ bash:~$ ntfsmount /dev/hda1 /media/ windows -o=0007
bash: bash:~$: command not found
oem@freekbox:~$ bash:~$ sudo ntfsmount /dev/sda1 /m edia/windows -o=0007
bash: bash:~$: command not found
oem@freekbox:~$ sudo ntfsmount /dev/hda1 /media/win dows -o umask=0007
Password:
Use the force option to work a mounted filesystem.
Mount failed.
oem@freekbox:~$

The link you gave me called my hd either hda1 or sda1, so i'm using the
sda1 which is what it is called on my comp. i have the progs: libfuse2,
ntfsprogs, and Fuse-utils all installed. I don't know what 'bash' means
but i had to cut that part out and as you see above i started with 'sudo
and used sda1 for hd; it asked for my password and then said i have to
use "the force option" which i don't know about. I guess you must lose
patience with people like me?, sorry bout dat!
It feels like i'm almost there but i'm stuck. help. thanx, brian
pace portland, or, usa

*note:
the external hd that i plugged into comp that is running Ubuntu Dapper Drake, was previously named " i " [the letter i ] and the reason why i can't access it is because it is considered a 'read only' file. When i tried to get to it in Terminal, i got this:

oem@freekbox:~$ mkdir /media/i/windows
mkdir: cannot create directory `/media/i/windows': Read-only file system
oem@freekbox:~$

*note
i tried again in Terminal and got this:

oem@freekbox:~$ sudo ntfsmount /dev/sda1 /media/i/windows -o umask=0007
Password:
Use the force option to work a mounted filesystem.
Mount failed.

[as u can C, i'm using the "trial & error" method of figuring this out, but mostly it's errors! hah hah]
ok, this time i tried using a different name for the hd:

oem@freekbox:~$ sudo ntfsmount /dev/hda3 /media/i/windows -o umask=0007
Use the force option to work a mounted filesystem.
Mount failed.
///
So i keep coming back to the use "force option". Can somebody pls tell me how to do this? thanx, bp [needi newbi]

got the external HD working by formatting file system to windows virtual FAT [wfat]

I've had issues with this as well. I have an internal HD that won't let me write to it. I've opened up terminal and put in:

sudo nautilus

navigated to the drive and then tried to change permissions. The options are there... I'll use the drop-down box to change the permission to:

Folder access: Create and delete files
File access: Read and Write

for owner, group and others, but the options just revert back to the defaults:

Folder access (root): Create and delete files
File access (root): --

Folder access (group): Access files
File access (root): --

Folder access (others): Access files
File access (root): --

I really need the HD space, so any help is greatly appreciated...

Is there a way to simply modify the permissions in the terminal without having to go through all the stupid gui stuff?

Thanks!