Re: [Staffslug] Windows/Linux shared partition
2009/11/2 JENETTE PALMER <jenette.palmer(a)btinternet.com>:
I have been trying to follow your thread on this subject. I
can't work out how you decided which file system to use and how you made the selection
(not as clever as you lot). Anyway, I have managed to partition my hard disc between
WindowsProfessional 2000 and Kubuntu. I did it on an old computer that I have just in
case I lost all the data. As it happens it works brilliantly and I have not lost any data
etc. However, my computer now tells me that one partition is ext3 and one is swap. I
don't know what this means or how I happened to end up with these. Could you just
explain what I have done. Sorry to be semi hopeless-can you just give me a clue.
Jenette
jenette palmer
Ah, in a very brief nutshell. Linux has supported the old MS Windows
standard filesystems of FAT, FAT16 and FAT32 for years. It does so
very succesfully. Trouble is, none of the FAT iterations can support
file sizes of bigger 4gb. So, trying to copy over your average DVD is
out of the question. You would have to mess about cutting it up into
two or more sections - messy. Linux has just recently started to
'fully' support the newer NTFS file system (it's actually termed New
Technology File system so my addition of 'file system' is really
redundant). Now, I still insist that the 'fully' supported bit is not
my wording as I have had problems recently as have many others.
Anyway, disregarding that for now. NTFS supports larger file sizes
than 4gb so, in theory we can use it as a go between for Windows
partitions and Linux ones (or for swapping between Windows PC's and
Linux ones if you like).
There is an alternative to this which is to use the Linux file system
(well, one of them) ext2 or ext3 with a set of drivers installed onto
a Windows PC to allow Windows to read and write to the ext2 or 3 file
system.
That is, as stated, a very brief explanation of it.
--
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Kevan
Linux user #373362
Staffordshire
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