Re: [gentoo-user] ntfs-3g problem (I suppose) - locking system

[Mick]

On Friday 15 Mar 2013 01:18:03 Francisco Ares wrote:
> Hello.
>
> During some months now, this machine was (and still is, sometimes)
> suffering from a strange progressive lock down. It always has begun with
> the web browser, passing to the whole X environment, and finally I could
> not even use a console.
>
> After several trial and error actions, as no log entry could give any hint
> on what is going on, it seems that I found something consistent.
>
> This machine is a dual-boot Linux/Windows, as my wife once in a while needs
> to work on a Windows O.S. .  The lock down starts when she saves a file
> received by e-mail in a ntfs-3g mounted partition, so that file would also
> be accessible whenever she uses Windows.
>
> The reason why I suspect of ntfs-3g is that when the lock down starts, that
> is, if only the web browser locks, just unmounting (and mounting back
> later) that partition, recovers the web browser functionality. Sometimes,
> when the lock down has already affected the whole graphic environment, but
> I still may use a console, again unmounting that same partition also
> unlocks everithing.
>
> I have already tried to emerge ntfs-3g with different use flags, but the
> problem persists. Even built a new kernel and re-emerged ntfs-3g after
> that. Now ntfs-3g package is using its own "fuse".
>
> I would really appreciate any hints on what to do or where to look for any
> more information on this subject.  Perhaps I am still looking at an effect,
> and not the cause.
>
> Thanks
> Francisco

It could be a number of things, but would start with the basics, checking that 
there is adequate space in the partition and that the fs has been defragmented 
(Windows 7 defrag application is quite effective and for WinXP there is 
mydefrag).  While you have booted into MSWindows, you might as well run 
chkdsk.

Other than that, uou could try the 'big_writes' mount option in ntfs-3g 
which may make a difference.
-- 
Regards,
Mick