Ntfs???

bobbydazzler_uk · 07-18-2003, 10:26 AM

Why doesn't linux allow writing to NTFS? is it a microsoft thing or what.

Mathieu · 07-18-2003, 10:41 AM

Actually, if you re-compile your Kernel, you will be able to write to NTFS.

However, it is dangerous, support for writing to NTFS is not complete. You may end-up corrupting your partition.

As I understand it, writing to NTFS requires updating many tables in the Windows registry and other things which Linux presently does NOT do.

fancypiper · 07-18-2003, 10:43 AM

Well, you can if you want to live dangeroulsy as I have heard of no success stories, only disaster stories with it. If you can afford to lose the information, you can give bug reports until the devleopers can get it going right.

# Handling NTFS
New Technology FileSystem (NTFS) HOWTOs
Linux NTFS project

Skyline · 07-18-2003, 03:02 PM

Hi BobbyDazzler_UK

The NTFS is complicated in asmuch you have to make changes to a number of places for consistency - this isnt easy - make any mistakes and the filesystem will be damaged

There are currently 2 Linux drivers available - the first one is extremly dangerous to use, includes the possibility of destroying your filesystem. The most recent Linux driver has some basic write ability but is limited.

The Kernel guys are trying - but its a hobby.

People who want to Dual boot XP/2K with a Linux Distribution should create a Shared Data partition formatted with FAT32.

This will enable you to read/write to and from both OS's.

Mega Man X · 07-18-2003, 03:09 PM

The best solution I've found so far was to convert NTFS to FAT32 using PQ Magic 8.0. No information were lost doing it...
As far as I know, M$ allows you to convert a FAT32 into NTFS typing a simple command at Windows "run", but you can't do it from FAT to NTFS :S
I know NTFS is better then FAT32 and handle better bigger hardrivers, but I use Windows only to install few games that winex can't... then copy the installed game to Linux partition and try running like this...