Writing from Linux to NTFS partitions.

[imdeemvp]

Well, not really. The title is just to get your attention because many people wonder how you can write from linux to ntfs partitions.

This is how I do it. I login in windows 2000 or XP and I use this little application called explore2fs (http://uranus.it.swin.edu.au/~jn/linux/explore2fs.htm) and it works like a champ.

Whenever I want to back linux using windows thats how I do it. So, try it and you wont be dissapointed. :p

[neo_roamer]

Or you can grab the right stuff from:

http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/

and still write the NTFS from linux as root!

If you get the permissions right for the mounted directory, any user can practically right it! But somehow this global user access has never worked smoothly for me!

Anyways, try it and see how it goes! ;)

[imdeemvp]

I know your point many users always have a hard time getting permissions to work. I use those rpm's also. Also remember is not safe to write from directley from linux (while your are using linux) to ntfs partitions. Many have reported data lose by doing so.

[chiku31]

I am using sambaclient to write to my network shared drives which are ntfs filesystem. Would there be any data loss when I am doing that. Maybe

[SuperNu]

I am using sambaclient to write to my network shared drives which are ntfs filesystem. Would there be any data loss when I am doing that. Maybe
There won't be any data loss since you are using the SMB protocol to write files. Windows processes the files sent and will write them natively. It is when you try to write to a NTFS share through Linux and completely bypass Windows where the problems arise.

--SN

[imdeemvp]

I agree with SuperNu, there has been reports of data lost when writing from ntfs to linux or vice versa. But the app I used its very safe.

[DevHead]

Ahh!! You tricked me into reading this thread!! :D

[imdeemvp]

Ahh!! You tricked me into reading this thread!! :D
That was the idea and at least you got to know the powerfull app! :cool:

[pigpen]

Ahh!! You tricked me into reading this thread!! :D
Me too! I expected to read "captive" in this thread ;)

[dulciepercy]

Hi

Explore2fs doesn't work for me - nor does ltools, though both should recognise my partitions. They only recognise a boot partition. The original partitioning was done by Mandrake, which I overwrote with FC3. Is there some bit of information I can give here that would let someone help me find out what is wrong? Exploring harware in FC3 showed the partition to be "Extended". Is that the same as Ext2/3? Sorry if I sound confused. (And I hope I'm in the right forum - first post here)

Thanks
George

[imdeemvp]

dulciepercy,

you are right it no longer works in fc3....I email the app maintainer so he can be aware of it.

[Void Main]

I don't think it matters whether it's FC3 or any other distro. I'll bet the people having problems have their ext2/3 file sytems on a logical volume rather than a native Linux partition.

[imdeemvp]

Is that how fedora partitions itself?

[micha]

This is how I do it. I login in windows 2000 or XP and I use this little application called explore2fs (http://uranus.it.swin.edu.au/~jn/linux/explore2fs.htm) and it works like a champ.I prefer Ext2fsd, which mounts Linux partitions in Windows, and allows writing on Ext2 FS (Ext3 is not supported yet).

http://ext2fsd.sourceforge.net/

[Void Main]

Is that how fedora partitions itself?

I don't know, Fedora doesn't partition itself on my systems. I always do a custom install and set the partitions up myself, not using LVM. I am pretty sure FC3 uses LVM by default on automated installs though. It's pretty easy to tell, when you do a "df" or "mount" do any of the file systems start with /dev/Vol*? My guess is that on your system your /boot is on a regular partition and the rest of your file systems are on logical volumes. I thought we had just went through this in another thread. :)

[Void Main]

I prefer Ext2fsd, which mounts Linux partitions in Windows, and allows writing on Ext2 FS (Ext3 is not supported yet).

http://ext2fsd.sourceforge.net/

Have you tried using it with ext3? I think it should work since ext3 is really just ext2 with a jounal.

[imdeemvp]

The app used work in fc3 using xp now I am using w2k so I dont know if that makes a different. I will read more on this. And about the LVM thread I got it working.

[dulciepercy]

wow so much activity while I sleep :-) Thanks.

imdeemvp, as far as I can tell the code for explore2fs hasn't changed since 2002, so if you've had it working in fc3/xp, it shouldn't have stopped.

tried Ext2fsd as well but no luck. Do I need to understand the difference between native/logical volumes?

[micha]

Have you tried using it with ext3? I think it should work since ext3 is really just ext2 with a jounal.Ext2fsd can read Ext3 without a problem, but it cannot write on Ext3 (because the journal needs to be updated, and Ext2fsd doesn't support this feature yet).