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Microsoft introduced a new feature in Windows 8 to reduce the boot time in otherwise slow Windows OS. This feature is called Fast Startup. In normal shut down process power is removed form all components such as CPU, RAM, CD-Rom and hard disks. But in fast start up, Windows 8 saves some system information such as caching the registry etc to a file during shutdown. Part of the metadata about the state of all mounted partitions at the time of turn off is among these system information. This reduces the boot time of the Windows 8 and it creates the trouble for Ubuntu.

Since the information about the NTFS partition is stored in Windows 8, this prevents Ubuntu to mount them as mounting them in Linux will alter the metadata of the partitions. This is why it is in protected mode and you cannot mount it (without being root).

Temporary solution of this problem will be to boot in to Windows 8 and restart it. Restarting is different from shutdown and it should release the partition metadata from the stored system information. But this will only be a temporary solution because when you use Windows 8 next time, you’ll face the same problem again.

Permanent solution would be to disable the fast startup in Windows 8. This will increase your Windows 8 boot time so it is up to you if you prefer it. If you use Windows more frequently and you have probably set Window as default OS in dual boot with Ubuntu, then you should avoid this solution. But if you more of a Linux guy and use Windows occasionally then you can disable fast startup in Windows 8 without thinking twice.

Alternatively, here is the detailed process along with some picture to help you to disable fast startup in Windows 8. First search for Power Option along with Settings filter in start screen of Windows 8.

Make sure that you have admin rights:

Scroll down a bit in power options to look for Turn on fast startup option and uncheck this box.

That’s all. Next time you try to mount NTFS partition in Ubuntu, you should not see the NTFS partition is in an unsafe state error.