Parition problem
 

I am using Windows XP and Linux at the same time, set up on different partitions. However, I use a third partition for my "non system" files.

In Linux (Ubuntu 7.10), it says that the partiton isn't accessible because of encryption or something like that.

How to make it work on linux?

Thanks

Do you have file compression turned on in Windows?

If the partition is NTFS, you might some issues with Linux being able to write to it, but it should be possible with the right Linux setup. FAT32 should not be a problem, normally.

Yea, I have NTFS. If let's say I completely format my hard drive, as I want to switch to linux, would it work better? Like just running one os with two partitions, even if it is NTFS. If it doesn't read/write NTFS, what should I do?

I use ext3 for all shared partitions. Windows accesses it using the ext2fsd driver (free download). I think I remember that it works like a charm (I hardly ever use Windows.)

Fat32 is easily accessible in Linux and native to windows so it might be a better choice. I personally had experienced some problems when i installed ext2fsd driver in windows on a pc. While booting linux, it used to do fs check, once i removed it, there were no problems

I believe that if you install ntfs-3g you will be able to read and write to an ntfs partition.

I would be inclined to use fat32, its not as recoverable as ntfs or any of the journalised FS, but it is easy to format with both linux and windows...totally accessable to both with no extra applications needed, and no tweeking unless you have write restrictions that you added...

sounds to me that you need to compile a kernel with the drivers to read write ntfs.see the kernel howto.

Hmm, I am so big of a noob, that I have no idea how to convert to fat32 =) Any "tips"?

back your data up then reformat the partition

Thank you!

Just another question:

I have a 182 GB partition. The FAT format is only for partitions <32GB. What do I do?

That's a M$oft imposed limitation. FAT32 supports *much* larger than that, and Linux will format it. See "man mkfs.vfat"; use "-F 32"

May not be the most efficient as one partition; I tend to limit fat32 partitions to around 80 Gig. No science involved, just a convenient size at the time I made the decision.

But what if I need to install Linux first, but all my partitions are NTFS. What do I do? (I use Linux Ubuntu 7.10 distribution and my internet doesn't work on it, usb adapter requires ndiswrapper)

In your initial post you saidDo it from a (Linux) terminal window - use "sudo" if needed.