Member Avatar for Roberdin

Since I can access FAT32 filesystems from Linux Mandrake, I wondered if the reverse was true. I soon found out that it is (too a limited degree), with some freeware generously provided from . However, you will notice some limitations in writing data and that prevuiously hidden files (prepended with a dot '.') are visible in Windows, cluttering folder view up.

This didn't even require a restart, although Windows warns you that installing the driver might muck everything up (I think it's jealous that it now has to share the hard drive with Linux ;))

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by oldstinkyfish

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Quick, practical update for anyone reading this thread years after it was started: there are three realistic ways to access ext2/3/4 from Windows XP/2000 — each has trade‑offs.

  • Safe, read‑only extraction: use a GUI extractor to copy files off the Linux partition without touching it. DiskInternals Linux Reader is a solid free option for this workflow.
  • Free mount‑driver: Ext2Fsd can assign drive letters and offer read/write access, but it has known limitations (especially with newer ext4 features) and can corrupt data if used carelessly.
  • Commercial, supported driver: Paragon’s “Linux File Systems for Windows” provides full read/write support and is the safer choice if you need regular bidirectional access and are willing to pay. (diskinternals.com)

How to apply those choices (short workflow):

  • For recovery or occasional copies: install DiskInternals Linux Reader, open the Linux partition, preview and “save/export” files to a Windows volume — no writes to the Linux FS. This is the lowest‑risk option.
  • If you must mount as a Windows drive: install Ext2Fsd but keep volumes mounted read‑only, disable automount, and do not enable write access on ext3/4 with a journal unless you have backups and tested that exact kernel/driver combination. If full-time read/write is required, prefer a maintained commercial driver such as Paragon’s product. Always power down Linux cleanly (no hibernation) before Windows touches the disk. (diskinternals.com)

Other practical tips and cautions:

  • For ongoing file sharing, a dedicated data partition formatted for cross‑OS use (FAT32 or exFAT) is simplest — note FAT32 has a 4 GB per‑file limit, so use exFAT for large files (or NTFS with appropriate Linux NTFS support).
  • Using a Linux live CD/USB (Knoppix, Ubuntu live) is the safest way to move large batches of files; it avoids Windows drivers entirely.
  • Back up (or image) the partition before enabling any Windows write driver; if anything sounds wrong (errors, strange noises as noted), stop and work on a copy. These options reflect the tradeoffs discussed earlier in the thread (for example, ’s driver trial and /’s extractor/FAT32 advice). (learn.microsoft.com)

Links: DiskInternals Linux Reader (https://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/), Ext2Fsd project (https://www.ext2fsd.com/), Paragon Linux File Systems for Windows (https://www.paragon-software.com/us/home/linuxfs-windows/).

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for Z28James

I wouldnt be writting to a linux partiton from windows, sounds a lil too risky for me.

however i havent used windows in a year sooo..:p

Member Avatar for Roberdin

I wouldnt be writting to a linux partiton from windows, sounds a lil too risky for me.

however i havent used windows in a year sooo..:p

Well, I'm just reading stuff from it.

Member Avatar for TallCool1

Since I can access FAT32 filesystems from Linux Mandrake, I wondered if the reverse was true. I soon found out that it is (too a limited degree), with some freeware generously provided from .

I would not trust any external file system under Windows. Maybe Knoppix would help you there.

Member Avatar for Roberdin

Since I can access FAT32 filesystems from Linux Mandrake, I wondered if the reverse was true. I soon found out that it is (too a limited degree), with some freeware generously provided from .

I would not trust any external file system under Windows. Maybe Knoppix would help you there.

Listen, it works fine (on my PC). :roll:

Member Avatar for motech

I use it to pull data from my ext2fs filesystem
while in 98se
YMMV

Member Avatar for subtronic

You really ought to be using ext3 (saved my ass several times).

Anyway, if you want to share space, I seriously recommend you create a FAT32 partition (as you have read/write access with it in Linux as well as Windows) and just use that. You won't be able to run anything from the partition in windows, anyway, so I'd imagine you just want to share files on a dual boot and I personally don't know of a way to trick Windows into showing you a linux partition.

Member Avatar for oldstinkyfish

explore2fs works great and it supporst ext3, and large files.
But oooh man did my hardrive make some weird hissing while coppying two gentoo iso into windows. ouch, im sure not to test the limits of my hard drive again if I plan on keeping it.

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