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I recently decided to use ubuntu and for this reason, I followed the steps written in the answer to this question: Windows Ubuntu dual boot - Share files between OS

Now, I'm new to ubuntu and linux world in general, but from what I've understood, home folders should not be owned by root. However, after following those steps, that's just what happened: my download, pictures, music and documents folders are all owned by root. I already found some answers explaining how to change ownership but what I wanted to ask is if I should change it.

Thank to anyone will answer!

Jonky
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  • Mmm, maybe I didn't explain myself like I should've. What I did was messing with some config files and using symlinks in order to use folders of an external hard drive like subfolders of home. Those are owned by root. – Jonky Aug 06 '17 at 16:27
  • I don't think I get it, sorry (as I said, I'm new to ubuntu). The hard drive is connected to a sata port and it's mounted automatically at start up, shouldn't it be already mounted for the user that's using it? – Jonky Aug 06 '17 at 16:47
  • Then see /etc/fstab. There is where it is configured, probably. add the options to it to mount it as your user. And no... ntfs will be mounted as root. – Rinzwind Aug 06 '17 at 16:51

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I opened your provided link, but stopped reading the moment I saw having $HOME (/home/*) files on a NTFS partition (way too scary for me). I decided long ago ago when I had to dual boot (I no longer do) that it was safer to have a partition (not /home) where both OSes (windoze, ubuntu) could share the files I wanted to access in both worlds. [My /home was for my gnu/linux distro only; with a link ln for easy-access only in $HOME]

As to your real question (file ownership), I'll provide the following

-rw-rw-r-- 1 owner group 281K Aug 28 2016 file_blah

I changed my $USER (my username) to "owner" as that field is the owner, which you're saying is "root". The group that can access it I changed to "group". I have files in my $HOME (/home/username folder) that are owned by root|root (owner|group), but its not a problem as I have permissions to do what I need with them anyway, as revealed in the "-rw-rw-r--" (owner, group, others).

If it works, I'd leave it just so your version of windoze doesn't complain, but if you want to change it sudo chown username filename (where username is your username, or owner you want & filename is name of file/dir, or globbed-regex; eg. *), with a -R to quickly do any sub-directories.

But note: I'd only change it if it's a problem, and I'd save a copy of the directories (ls -la at least) so you could write a script to put things back the way they are in case it creates issues for the unnamed windoze version you use.

guiverc
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  • It isn't a real problem, because I can just move some files to desktop (that is in an ext4 partition) or create some other subfolders on the hard drive in which I have the /home partition the moment I have to execute some jar or something like that that I don't want to execute as root, I was just wondering if changin ownership could cause any trouble xD And, from what you said, it could be a problem with Windows (I've 10 installed). Anyway, could you please say why it's so scary to mantain my personal files on an external ntfs hard drive? – Jonky Aug 06 '17 at 16:37
  • I can't offer any advice with regards w10. Short term you'll likely notice no issues with $HOME anywhere (I used to do things like that long ago too), but I found as you upgraded from one version of gnu/linux to the next (or more likely upgrades after that) quirks & upgrade issues can occur. ie. its a potential problem you may forget about, but will bite you later :) I like KISS (keep it simple..) – guiverc Aug 07 '17 at 07:25
  • Mmm, I see. I will focus on using the system for now and then will try to patch things up xD I'll accept your answer, as the comments clarified other doubts. Again, thank you! – Jonky Aug 07 '17 at 12:04