Better NTFS Support Under Linux

[OP splatnix 0]

Just noticed this on Slashdot:

Using the Real ntfs.sys Driver Under Linux

"A very neat hack uses the real ntfs.sys driver (obtained from your own windows XP partition and used via a wine-like layer (borrowed from ReactOS) to mount an ntfs partion with full read/write access. While not an ideal solution and certainly not free as in speech, this is an ideal stop-gap measure for many people trying out linux. I think that we'll probably see this in Knoppix pretty soon."

While write support in the kernel exists already, you can only use it on NON-system drives because of the second NTFS Journal that is present on system drives (or is it just the system partition? reguardless, I wouldn't touch my system DRIVE period with "NTFS write" under Linux). This appears to be a MUCH safer way, as it's actually using Microsoft's own driver rather than a "built from scratch" system!

[FBody24 0]

I saw this too. Pretty interesting idea. I know Knppoix et.al. will use it eventually (maybe), but I don't really see any of the big commercial distros using it since it uses MS property ( see the Web TTF core issues). Then again, most non-US distros don't have to worry about the insane US copyright rules.

I'm going to give this a shot on my laptop. Since I haven't used the XP partition in awhile anyway, no harm done if it does get nuked! :D

[neowin_hipster 0]

i believe the ntfs ppl had thought of doing that but gave a nice list of reasons why its bad. Personally i don't care atm too much. Would be nice to write to my windows drive.

Integrating that into knoppix would be great. Especially since windows users would use it to recover fscked windows. I know ppl who still use it regarldess, but have non ntfs drives.

[markjensen 86]

Windows drive?

What is this thing called "Windows", anyway? :shifty:

[Tek 0]

Microsoft's drivers are shakey enough in Windows, I don't think they would work any better in Linux.

[BananaMan 0]

I don't really see why people would want to have write support for NTFS in Linux anyway. I mean, there are isolated uses where it might be useful (eg. repairing a borked Windows install), but there's already better tools for that (eg. recovery console). And if you want to share storage space for say.. MP3's or DIVX's, you can do so with FAT32 or using Linux's native filesystem and picking up Paragon's software which allows you to read/write to Linux filesystems in Windows (came free with a computer magazine for me).

[DTR 0]

Yes FAT32 is a solution (I use it personally). On the other hand I had been cursing the whole world for a year before I switched to FAT32 (just after my hdd died). And I'm sure millions of people have NTFS partitions, and before swithing to linux they do all ask: what if need to write on ntfs drive?

[OP splatnix 0]

...if you want to share storage space for say.. MP3's or DIVX's, you can do so with FAT32 or using Linux's native filesystem and picking up Paragon's software which allows you to read/write to Linux filesystems in Windows (came free with a computer magazine for me).

Using FAT32, if you created the partition under Windows, it is crippled as you cannot make FAT32 partitions larger than 40GB AFAIK (to force movement away from the archaic filesystem). Yes, FAT32 supports larger partitions, but you need to use Partition Magic or some other 3rd party partition manager. And you loose the security features built into other filesystems. By default, Windows will definately not create a 120GB FAT32 partition. It forces NTFS on you.

For the casual user or for the newcomer, this would be helpful in allowing them to still access and modify their files if they are on an NTFS partition. I also know enough people who prefer to use ResierFS or XFS for their installs. Paragon's software is a good solution if you are using ext2/3, but if you're using XFS or ReiserFS (which is what SuSE defaults to; don't know about others), then you're SOL.

...I don't really see any of the big commercial distros using it since it uses MS property ( see the Web TTF core issues).

The legal thing here, that I think will help push this into being adopted more, is that ntfs.sys is already on an NTFS-based system. This takes into account that you already installed a legal Windows operating system (you did, right?). There isn't any distribution of ntfs.sys that would need to happen, with such things as the Windows Fonts (which doesn't require you to have purchased Windows software), because you alreayd have the file on your drives. And if you don't have Windows installed, then what's the point of using NTFS?

[devilotX 5]

I would like to see Native NTFS Writing, I hate having a FAT32 drive to swap files with my Nix Boot, besides if I could safely write to NTFS, I could boot SUSE and alter Windows system files safely to mod my OS.