ext3 --> vfat/dos partition
 

gday, i was wondering if anyone could tell me if it is at all possible to convert a ext3 linux partition to a dos partition while retaining the existing data ... i have a linux box which i want to make into a dual boot with plain old dos - is this possible when linux is installed already with no dos partitions yet? the drive is a wd30 gig which has 16 gb of data i do not want to lose and a linux boot, swap and root partition making up the rest .

any help would be appreciated

Dave

ummm.. don't think your gonna be able to convert ext3 to dos filesystem without losing data, but you could probably make a new partition off of it using some partitioning utility... if that is what your asking.. ??

thats what im trying to do ...
the files i want to keep (*mp3) and use are on the linux partition but i want a dos program (mpxplay) to be able to read them ... is that possible?

or can i get the dos program to run under linux even ?

i cant find a suitable enough console mp3 player for linux (ive literally tried them all) and couldnt be bothered writing one ...

ta

Dave

which one are you trying to do?? convert your ext3 to dos formatted filesystem or create a new dos partition out of your existing partitions ??

it is possible to create a dos partition with existing partitions, you would have to use partition magic to keep existing data, which would be the safest way.. but i don't know of a program that would read the mp3's from the linux partition to the dos..

its always easier to read a dos or windows partition from linux... as dos and windows doesn't have any programs or can't see linux filesystems..

most people read their mp3's stored on their windows partition from within linux...

i basically think what you want isn't going to work... either find a mp3 player you can deal with or backup your mp3's and get them on a windows partition, install windows then install linux for your dual boot, as windows doesn't like to be, lets say, not installed at the beginning of the hard drive in a dual boot situation most of the time...

maybe someone else might know of a way.. i tend to load windows first, then linux on dual boots.. but you can't easily read linux filesystems and files from dos or windows with ease.

you could however look into Wine or vmware, windows emulator to load windows programs within linux to use..

thanks for the replies
i took your advice and decided to back up all the files ... today i went out and bought a very long overdue cd writer and am backing up ... i do need a backup as about a month ago i accidently deleted my mp3 partition and it took ages to re-encode my music cd's again (about 10 gigs - thats why its overdue)

then im going to make it a dos partition and hopefully that'll do it ...

thanks again

Dave