Hackszine.com: Read/write access to Linux partitions from Windows

Read/write access to Linux partitions from Windows

I read today on Lifehacker about a freeware tool called Linux Reader. It provides you with read access to ext2/ext3 partitions within Windows and has an explorer-like interface that allows you to drag and drop files from a standard Linux partition.

What about full read/write access? With a little googling, I found another freeware utility called Ext2 IFS that provides full write access. It's is essentially a kernel ext2/ext3 filesystem driver for Windows, which allows the operating system to access your Linux partitions in a more native manner.

After installing, you can mount your Linux partition under a drive letter, just like you would an NTFS partition. The drive will be available in Explorer and within any file browser dialog in your favorite Windows applications.

As far as I can tell, both packages pretty much ignore the permission settings on files, so you'll have full access to files across the entire partition. One caveat is that LVM volumes are not supported by the Ext2 IFS driver (and I'm assuming the same is true for Linux Reader). ReiserFS, XFS and other filesystems are also not supported. For your plain Jane dual-boot system with an ext3 partition, however, you should have no problem accessing your Linux files from within Windows.

Ext2 Installable File System For Windows - Link
Linux Reader - [via] Link

Posted by Jason Striegel | Dec 17, 2007 07:50 PM
Lifehacker, Linux, Windows | Permalink | Comments (3)

Comments

Newest comments listed first.

Posted by: hieutcot2007 on December 17, 2007 at 10:47 PM

epx46

Posted by: alcik on December 18, 2007 at 1:49 AM

Years ago, when I have also used dual boot configuration there was great TotalCommander plugin that was giving full access to linux partition on hard disk. For people which hates explorer, like me, it was great option...
regards....

Posted by: TheBlunderbuss on December 18, 2007 at 1:38 PM

PLEASE note that this allows any Windows action or program to overwrite files on the ext2/3 filesystem. This could include system root files.
The EXT2 IFS also does not continue journaling an ext3 filesystem.

A better solution for longterm filesystem sharing between Linux and Windows is FAT32, and even the ntfs-3g driver for Linux is stable enough for use on NTFS partitions.