Linux reading NTFS (and writing properly?)

[NecessaryEvil]

Is there a way (and admitedly, I've not tried this out yet) to make Linux read NTFS partitions or drives?

i have an external 200gb drive that I'd like to keep NTFS...but would like a Linux box to be able to read it as well (as well as be able to write to it without messing things up)

(Fedora would be the Distro of choice)

[BillLeeLee]

You have to compile NTFS read/write support into the kernel.

However, at this time, writing to NTFS is experimental and could corrupt the NTFS partition.

Reading from NTFS is fine though.

However, if you must write to NTFS...

Take a look at this. I assume no responsibility for anything that happens as a result.

Linux Captive (http://www.jankratochvil.net/project/captive/)

Hope that helps.

[eeyrjmr]

if you really want to write to NTFS the best way at teh moment is to let windows do the writing.

Set up a virtual Windows2k/XP using VMWARE within linux and via SAMBA set up a workgroup network. That way you can write to NTFS perfectly.

Works for me every time

[NecessaryEvil]

quick question...the harddrive will have an XP install & a Fedora install on it.

C will be 15gb, and dedicated to XP Pro.
"D" will be 25 gb, and be set up according to Linux's needs. (there will be several partitions here, the /, the swap, etc.)


Can I make Fedora look at the XP install and run it?

I'll skip out on something that could corrupt 200gb worth of movie caps & my MP3 collection.

[HHunt]

Originally posted by NecessaryEvil
quick question...the harddrive will have an XP install & a Fedora install on it.

C will be 15gb, and dedicated to XP Pro.
"D" will be 25 gb, and be set up according to Linux's needs. (there will be several partitions here, the /, the swap, etc.)


Can I make Fedora look at the XP install and run it?

I'll skip out on something that could corrupt 200gb worth of movie caps & my MP3 collection.

You should be able to boot it in a vmware-session without too much work.
(I did the exact opposite with this FreeBSD-install inside XP, and it worked flawlessly, right down to xmms.)

Of course, this requires you to get hold of vmware somehow.
I'm confident you can find a way :)

[NecessaryEvil]

is vmware windows or Linux softwarE?

[eeyrjmr]

you can buy window host or linux host

[Zlash]

NTFS write support no longer says "experimental" in the 2.6 kernel. I haven't tried it yet so take it for what you will.

[jpmkm]

There are linux and windows versions of vmware, and you can run any x86 OS inside vmware. Kernel NTFS write support may not be marked as experimental, but it is extremely limited. Basically you can overwrite files, but you can write any of the filesystem metadata, so you can't delete or resize files or anything like that. I've tried captive but it just wouldn't commit the changes to the drive. I have vmware but I need to find my windows xp disc. I haven't needed it in so long! I would like to be able to write to my 120 gig partition, though. There is a lot of old crap that I would like to get rid of to free up some space(and to be able to use that space).

[Arkaine23]

You're better off with captive. 2.6's write support can't change filesize or rename the file.

[JediGuy_Bob]

Ok, you wanted fedora and have it read ntfs partitions. This is the place to look. I have RH9 and these lovely RPMs to help me out with my dual boot system.

Just don't try writing, there's too much uncertainty in it actually working.

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

It also has the source if you want to compile it into the driver for a different linux flavor.