My other thread
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...60#post2053060
has got everyone stumped so I've given up on it.

Instead I've decided to use Knoppix to mount a NTFS winxp partition and copy data over to an external HD [NTFS] (using Knoppix as a middle man). Is that possible or does that count as NTFS writing from Linux (which I've heard is not reccomended)?

you wont be able to write to NTFS with any live disc
since you have to install special software to safely write to ntfs.


you can send it over a Network to a windows machine and it will write to the NTFS drive.

What do you mean "send it over a network"? A network between what?
Sorry, I've only just started to mess around with Linux.

Don't worry it's not a linux specific thing.

Do you have two computers?

there is only two ways to safely write to an NTFS drive in linux.

1. Use a Network cable to join a Linux Machine and a Windows Machine. and copy the files to the windows machine (Windows File SHaring)

2. There is Software to write to NTFS safely but you have to install it which Live CDs dont let you do.


and search for a Windows Recovery Linux LiveCD
there is one that has it already installed and is created to fix Windows Installations on NTFS. Or in your case copy things to an NTFS drive.



its on www.sourceforge.net
but i'm sorry i really cant remember what its called.

Define copy data? You you want to copy the entire drive? Then that can be done otherwise it's very difficult. If you need to use a live CD look for one that has unionfs on it, that will enable you to save stuff to your RAM as if it were a hard drive, that way you can use the live CD to download and install FUSE and it's NTFS driver, then you can safely write to a NTFS partition.

I didn't go into detail on that because you said you were new to linux and it is very complicated, if you decide to go that path then we might be able to help some more (not me, I've never done it) but it's not going to be easy. Windows LiveCDs do exist, I'd suggest searching for one of them and using that. The Live CD page on Wikipedia has some listed