Hey, I am just wondering if there is a way to write to a NTFS partition using linux? I have seen the ntfs-linux project, but I cant find anything that says write capability. Does anyone know?

Thanks

I think the 2.6 kernel supports writing, not positive though.

Can anyone verify this?

There are rumors about some kind of write support in CVS or something, but I'm not sure.

captive-ntfs
http://www.jankratochvil.net/project/captive/

But Captive has stopped development a while ago and it uses the obselete LUFS. Also, it has security problems and stuff.

and wondered why someone would go to so much trouble in this regard without implementing this seemingly essential 'feature'.

Is it possible that 'write NTFS' has NOT been implemented in an easily accessible way on systems like this just to reduce the potential security risk that would be posed to existing NTFS file systems by this? Hmm (I don't KNOW... it's just something that occurred to me after I started poking around my NTFS partition with LINUX, thinking, wow, it would be really EASY to screw this up)

I once tried it with knoppix and ended up repairing WinXP.

What you can do is avoid it by in WinXP using PowerQuest Partition magic and create a go between partition as Fat32, then when you boot up WinXP the files wrote there are for use, and likewise for Knoppix boot up CD to get at. Messy but no damage done.
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In reply, there is a common craze not to partition the new large hard disks, this something I strongly do not agree with.

With all the good intention in the world the best applications falter, or for some reason become damaged in some way and trying to repair the damage is a nightmare, which I have gone through several times: Windows XP can take up to 7 - 10 hours labour of love to reinstall with all the programmes that may be backed up on CD's and what about a persons' personal data files that have been saved? If personal data etc., is on a different partition then there is nothing like reformatting to clear away the mistakes, the viruses, the spyware accumulated.

mbrace7@gmail.com

A Linux user should be mindfull of the amount of damage he/she can inflict on a NTFS partition if he/she were allowed to modify it with Linux.

Linux can read all the hidden files in a NTFS partition and access it even if it is a hidden partition.

Would M$ not welcome the the news if someone accidentally trash an important M$ system, say in banking sector, using Linux? That would be a very good selling point to condemn Linux publicly.

Technically any data from a M$ operating system written in NTFS filing system has no use in Linux. People who have an "essential" need to write a NTFS partition from Linux are those enjoy mixing personal data with the operating system, so that the two can go down together. M$ has arranged the user's personal data integrated fully with its operating system to help the user not to think and be dependent on the product.

Is it "essential" for Linux to prolong this arrangement?

As one reply has already pointed out one can always saved the changes of the work from a NTFS partition to a FAT16 and FAT32 partition readable by both systems.

Shouldn't that is the place where the personal data have been stored? or is it more fun if to do a backup with a bigger volume of information ?

saikee, for someone who lives in England you do have rather poor English. From what I can make out, you're being a Linux purist and saying that there should be no choice: you either devote yourself entirely to Linux, or entirely to Windows. It is true that I've taken the former route, and made a conscious effort to keep Microsoft software away from my brand new machine, no matter what advantages (compatibility, etc) it might bring. However, some other people don't necessarily have the luxury of that decision, and need to use software and/or hardware that, unfortunately, won't work under Linux.
Some people might even continue to use Windows in parallel because they still like it (although I can't personally understand why).

You may have a point about Linux's possible bad publicity, but wouldn't it be equally bad for Microsoft if their favoured filesystem were proven that fragile? We can't leave useful features out of Linux simply because they might damage data if misused.

I was in that position before wanting a facility to alter things in a NTFS partition. Over the period of time I am now convinced it is not a bad thing at all, for the user himself, for Windows and for Linux.

Linux appears to me remarkably logical. Anything that we cannot do it with it would have a good reason somehwere.

I still use Windows a lot because I've got 6 licenses for the family. I may be wrong but the majority of experienced PC users seem to store their data away from an operating system (from their claims in the forums).

It may be just a rumour but is it possible the proprietor of the NTFS system has prepared some legal hostilities for anybody messing with this filing system?

I wouldn't be at all surprised - I've certianly heard rumblings that Microsoft is planning to sue Red Hat for VFAT patent violations in the Linux kernel...