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Posted Dec 20, 2008 at 8:49:54 PM
Subject: WInXP External HDD (partitioning)
Hi all,
I'm a newbie here and want to give a try to Kubuntu before I completely shift to any advanced Linux distro (maybe openSUSE 11.1).
I'm currently using a middle-aged computer with 40Gb HDD (two NTFS partitions) plus a 250Gb external hard disk (NTFS). My system is WinXP SP3. Now, before I install my Linux distro, I just want to be on the safe side with my external drive. It contains lots of data and, particularly, critical Win32 applications which I've been using during WinXP installation such as the latest BIOS update, Intel Application Accelerator, etc. It also contains important private data including my documents, e-books, software and newly downloaded Linux applications which I intend to use after a basic Kubuntu setup. All of these uses more than half of the external disk, i.e. some 150Gb.
I've read at some of the Linux forums that it uses a partitioning method completely different from FAT32 or NTFS. Hence my two questions:
1. Is it possible to use / integrate / synchronize Linux-partitioned drive (as the logic suggests, this will be my HDD after Linux installation) and NTFS-formatted external disk without any loss of information?
2. Is it possible to format the external disk using Linux and - again - without data loss? I know, this may sound stupid since my basic understanding of formatting process assumes a complete removal of data during re-format. I just hope it's possible somehow since I don't have any physical/virtual space to move the existing data to before re-formatting the external disk ... :)
Thank you very much in advance!!!
Rustam
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Joined Jul 26, 2008
Posts: 703
Location:
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Posted:
Dec 21, 2008 1:03:33 AM
Subject: WInXP External HDD (partitioning)
Before splitting up any hardrive, it is strongly suggested to back up data. Gparted and Parted Magic has the capability of shrinking partitions on hardrives and formatting them into NTFS,FAT32,EXT3,EXT2,Reiserfs, and other file formats. But it is strongly recommended to back up data before doing any partitioning on any hardrive.
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/
http://partedmagic.com/
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Rubberman
Joined Jul 30, 2007
Posts: 944
Location:40 miles west of Chicago
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Posted:
Jan 06, 2009 4:03:56 PM
Subject: WInXP External HDD (partitioning)
If you don't want to modify the format and partitioning of the drive, you can mount the NTFS partitions in linux, but you need to do so as root, as in my experience automounting ntfs partitions if it works is likely to be read-only. You need to use the ntfs-3g drivers which are the latest and do support read/write access to ntfs partitions. I have used it with great success on my CentOS 5.2 system, and while it works on compressed folders just fine, I haven't tried Windows-encrypted ones. I have heard that it does work with them, but I cannot speak from experience on that.
Sometimes real fast is almost as good as real time.
Remember, Google is your friend!
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Cagey
Joined Jan 07, 2009
Posts: 4
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Posted:
Jan 07, 2009 7:47:10 AM
Subject: WInXP External HDD (partitioning)
>> 1. Is it possible to use / integrate / synchronize Linux-partitioned drive (as the logic suggests, this will be my HDD after Linux installation) and NTFS-formatted external disk without any loss of information?
I'm sorry, but this question doesn't make enough sense to answer. Perhaps you could reword it a little bit?
>> 2. Is it possible to format the external disk using Linux and - again - without data loss? I know, this may sound stupid since my basic understanding of formatting process assumes a complete removal of data during re-format. I just hope it's possible somehow since I don't have any physical/virtual space to move the existing data to before re-formatting the external disk ... :)
You can format any disk using Linux, but as with any operating system, you're going to lose all the data stored on that disk.
Just as a philosophical point, if the data is that important to you and you don't have any backup of it, you're living on borrowed time. There's never any question of a disk failing, the only question is when, and it can happen at any moment. Hard drives are incredibly inexpensive these days, so there's little need to risk data loss by neglecting to back it up. Worst case, you take the time and burn the files to CD or DVD. If it were me, I'd pick one way or another to back things up before you even consider doing anything else, or you're liable to be very sorry.
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