"Execute file as application" Selection Not Working

[bizuser]

I've downloaded a few PortableLinuxApps onto my FAT32 HP USB thumb drive, and when I try to check the "Execute file as application" box, it automatically unselects for some applications, making it impossible to run these apps from my thumb drive. However, when I copy these same apps to my Ubuntu 10.10 installation, on my internal HDD, I'm able to successfully check this box and run these apps. The following apps experience the described condition: Skype 2.1.0.81; KeePassX 0.4.3; Opera 10.70; Firefox 4.0b1. On the other hand, I can run Filezilla 3.3.1 on my USB drive successfully.

I'd appreciate it if anyone can help me understand why this condition arises, and if there is a fix.

Also, if its an issue running FAT32 on my USB, then I can certainly partition it so half of the drive is running EXT2/3 ( I can partition a thumb drive, can't I?).

Thanks in advance.

[smartybee]

Also, if its an issue running FAT32 on my USB, then I can certainly partition it so half of the drive is running EXT2/3 ( I can partition a thumb drive, can't I?).

yes make the first partition fat32 ( for compatibly reasons to windows it will read only the first partition)
and the second partition ext2/3

did you try gparted on linux ?

smartybee ~o~

[probono]

Stupidly, recent versions of udisks have the "showexec" mount option hardcoded in, which effectively prevents you from executing any file from FAT devices like USB sticks.

This was recently introduced here:
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=28075
Please complain there if you disagree with this decision.

In the meantime, here is a somewhat hackish way to patch away the "showexec" option:

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sudo sed -i -e 's|showexec|\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00|g' /usr/lib/udisks/udisks-daemon

CAUTION: Works for me after a reboot, but no guarantees. Make a backup of /usr/lib/udisks/udisks-daemon before you do this! You will have to re-apply this every time you update udisks.

[probono]

In the latest versions of Ubuntu, the command is

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sudo sed -i -e 's|showexec|\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00|g' /usr/lib/udisks2/udisksd

This takes effect after a restart (of udisksd)