The reason is that for sane operation Win4Lin relies on some read-only
shared files really being read-only and thus staying uncorrupted.
In the early days when we were just getting Windows support implemented,
if we ran Windows as root, it would occasionally write to one of these
files it was not supposed to be writing to and thus causing odd and
hard-to-diagnose problems. So it is very important to enforce the
UNIX/Linux file permissions when Windows has access to your filesystem.
Win4Lin acts the same was as Merge has, and has from the very first version
that supported Windows. Basically Windows cannot be trusted to not hose
your system. You as superuser can be trusted to use the system wisely
when you are in that mode, but unfortunatly Windows is not to be trusted
to not do something outside of your notice and screw things up.
-David
Hoyt wrote:
>
> On Friday 29 June 2001 12:18 pm, you methodically organized electrons to
> state:
> > I have read the documentation and understand why win4lin root operation is
> > not permitted, and why in the general sense it would not be a good idea
> > normally.
> > My Question is: Since I operate as a user with superuser capability as the
> > norm and have for 4 -5 years now, is there a command that can be given to
> > start win or fwin in this mode?
>
> My favorite subject. 8)
>
> <rant>
> You have stumbled upon an area of programmer arrogance where they alone
> decide what you will do and give you no choice but to accept it, regardless
> of your desires, Some smugly reply "Why, you can alter the source code and
> change it if you don't like it! ", but how would a non-programmer even
> attempt that? Such egalitariansm.
>
> Like Win4Lin, they should present all the arguments as to why you shouldn't
> do it, but, unlike them (and many others), trust the superuser to make an
> informed decision.
>
> If I am the superuser, I should be able to choose to do anything. If I choose
> foolishly, I must live with the consequences, but my choice should not be
> restricted in such a totalitarian and non-free way. It's fundamentally wrong.
> </rant>
>
> And, yes, there is a way. I know it can be done with Merge, so it should be
> able to be done with Wn4Lin.
>
> Hoyt
> _______________________________________________
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> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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