Changing file system from NTFS to Linux Ext2
 

Since Windows XP is giving me a hardtime I want to transfer my files from my NTFS hard drives to a Debian Linux ext2 hdd. But I'm not sure how that stuff works, like if it is the same as NTFS.

At the moment I've like 4 hdd's (NTFS) with data on it. When I need data of a HDD I connect that hdd to my pc (they aren't all in). I've one spare hdd left now and can move the data one by one. But can I disconnect and connect linux ext2 drives on linux aswell. Or do they always need to be placed?

Another thingie that is going like the way I thought. One of my NTFS drives is currently beging formatted to Linux ext2 but PartionMagic is everytime giving up on me. Does de hdd size matter (it is 120 gig)? Do I need to make partions first, or should I format it through my debian?

hello

i'm using fedora core 2, but distro isn't much important here. i don't know if my kernel can use ntfs, but i know it can be compiled to be able to use it, but only in read mode. i don't know how's the situation with your debian.

about switching HDDs, i don't see that it would be a problem. when you plug them, just mount them as you would with floppy disc or cd-rom, using comand `mount`.
you are disconnecting them only when u shut down the system anyway (u unplug the computer case from power?) so you don't even need to unmount them.

so, it would be something like

mkdir /mnt/other-hdd (or some other name)
mount /dev/hdb0 -t ntfs /mnt/other-hdd (i think that next HDD would be hdb, and check first if your kernel recognizes NTFS)

then cd into /mnt/other-hdd and use it as u use hda

if u have few partitions on hdd, then use commant fdisk -l hdb, and u'll se how they are numbered.

hope this works,
bye

I've found a way to format my disk under Debian :) and created a partion. I made a dir test in /mnt and mounted it afterwards. When I do 'df' is show my hdd mounted in /mnt/test so I assume everything is ok.

Can I now just upload files to /mnt/test/? I assume that it is in the /root dir of that hdd then. So when I switch hdd's it shouldn't give a problem? Do I need to unmount the hdb before I shutdown and remove the hdb?

Are there anythings that I might have overlooked? Because I'm gonna swith all my data from NTFS to Linux ext3, but that will require 4 hdd's and need to make sure I can change them without any probys. Thanks.

For the love of God do NOT use ext2!!! If your machine dies unexpectedly it doesn't play very nice at all after that, I'd suggest ext3, you don't need to lose your data it's a simple command to change it over and you'll be glad you did.