well i have installed Linux 2.6.27.7-4-default i686 - kde 4.1.3. .
In the previous installed system suse 11.1 but not the final i had
access to hard disks. i was able to see windows partitions and read and
copy whatever have inside.And of course i had access to suse partitions
as user. i take this message
"An error occurred while accessing "volume (ext3), the system
responded: org.freedesktop.Hal.Device.PermissionDeniedPyPolicy:org.
freedesktop.Hal.storage.mount-removable auth_admin_keep_always
(action,result)
go Yast > Security > Local Security and click through next next next
until you come to the page with Miscellaneous Settings, and a flip
box with File Permissions choices of “Easy”, “Secure” and “Paranoid”…
read the help in that window and select “Easy” and then “Finish” as i
did…and have for years…and, have had no bogeyman steal my stuff…
or, maybe you have another problem…i really don’t quite understand
the question/problem as i’ve never seen it…i wonder if either of
you make it a practice to occasionally sign into KDE or GNOME as root??