Using files in Linux and windows
 

I have a dual boot system with windows and Linux and recently burnt some files to CD from the windows partition while in Linux. I know that Linux can see windows partitions and files (but windows can't see Linux partitions) but when I go to use the CD in windows it doesn't even recognise that there is a CD in the drive.

My question is, is there a way to see files burnt to CD from Linux in windows? I'd like to back up photos and music and I was under the impression that files like these could be seen in windows.

You should be able to burn cd's in linux that are readable by Windows.

1. Does the CD work in Linux?
2. How did you burn it?
3. What version of Windows do you have?

Thanks for the reply,

The CD works fine in Linux, I burnt some pictures and music files on it and they are read with no problems.

I burnt the CD in Mandrake using one of the CD burning programs (I can't remember which one unfortunatly), I do remember there was a section that had different formats to burn in, similar to iso9660 (if that's right). From memory I think I just picked the default format, perhaps this was the problem?

I have windows ME installed at the moment.

That should work fine, as long as you're not trying to boot from the CD. There should be no differences between systems. A JPEG is a jpeg, after all.

Thanks for the replies, I too would have thought that files such as jpegs and mp3's would be fine. I had the same problem when I copied files to a windows partition (they were windows file types) but I couldn't see them in windows.

I've since had to re-install Redhat (the only distro I'm using at the moment) so I'll try it again and see what happens.

CoopLinux mentioned that Windows can not see Linux partitions. Is that a hard and fast rule? Meaning, is there any way to install Linux (Mandrake) in such a way that Windows can see the partitions and file systems?

I installed my dual boot by letting the Mandrake installer partition the free unpartitioned space on my hard drive. If I were to (1) partition and format the space first with Windows and then install Linux onto that space (2) let mandrake partition it using a specific file system that XP recognizes --- would either of these approaches work?
Thanks.

Windows cannot see Linux partitions, and most Linux distros (including Mandrake) cannot run from a partions that uses a Windows file system.

However, since Linux can read and write to Windows FAT32/VFAT partions (as opposed to NTFS), you can make a third partition formatted in FAT32 to store data and both Linux and Windows will be able to read and write to it.

lantern,
It would probably not be a good idea use a filesystem that Windows recognizes for Linux. They don't support stuff like linux permissions and ownership, and that'll cause problems. The only one that will work properly is the umsdos filesystem, but it has limitations. You can use a program like explore2fs to browse ext2 and ext3 partitions from windows.

I've since reinstalled Mandrake and Redhat (9 and 8 versions respectively) and I've had no troubles seeing common files copied over to windows partitions (i.e. jpegs, mp3s').