Linux EXT2 Filesystem support in Windows XP

[Grogan]

http://www.bitbenderforums.com/~grogan/screenshots/winxp_ext2.jpg

http://sourceforge.net/projects/ext2fsd

This is quite useful and seems to work decently enough.

It has read-write support for EXT2 and read-only support for EXT3.

I'm posting this for interest's sake, but anyone wanting to try it should RTFM first :doc:

[Grogan]

OK, I'm back in Linux now. I would only enable write support for emergencies. I dumped about 2 gigs of data to an ext2 storage partition (no, I didn't try a write for the first time on my root filesystem, I'm not that nutz :nuts: ), then booted back into Linux and changed the mount counts so fsck would run on the next boot, and rebooted. It had to fix hundreds of i_block and inode ref count entries. Note that these are very minor inconsistencies that the read-only fsck scan at boot time can fix, and the data I copied is intact. However, I don't feel that the write support is 100% safe.

So... if I write to an ext2 partition with this driver, I must force an fsck on the partition immediately, next time I boot Linux.

[Dramen]

grogan, here is one that i had used b4 getting partionmagic 8. gui based explorer, that i haven't used since ver5, its at ver6 now, not bad at all, but like you said use the write with caution.

http://uranus.it.swin.edu.au/~jn/linux/explore2fs.htm

[Grogan]

Cool, a standalone application for it. That makes it easy, for quick and dirty copying operations. That'd be a bit easier than ext2fsd setup.

I think I'd prefer it as a driver though, this way I can just use the batch files I created to automate the process, and have my Linux filesystems assigned drive letters for access in Windows Explorer.

[mlangdn]

I use one called "explore2fs-1.00pre6.zip".
I use it in Windows XP to "drag and drop" files from Linux to XP. I haven't tried writing from XP to Linux with it yet. So far it is OK.

Mike

[Dramen]

btw, to enable write support with explore2fs

open regedit and go to the key below and add a new string value of, DangerWriteSupport in right pane and give it a value of 1

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Newbigin\explore2fs

next time you open explore2fs it will ask you if you want to enable write support, and it will ask you that for each partition. Which I think is an excellent idea.

update: ok, did a write on my /stor partition but got back popup 'write failed'.

so...

[Grogan]

To enable write support in mine, I had to change the value of an existing DWORD (from 0 to 1) in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Ext2fsd\parameters

I disabled it again and will only enable it if needed. Safe enough for emergencies, I figure.

[Grogan]

Dra, are your filesystems EXT2 or EXT3? It probably can't understand the journal for ext3, so it might not really mount it read/write (even if the prompt is still there)

[Dramen]

Damn, was right in the middle of a reply and the power went out. were having a ton of electrical storms, we even had a tornado blow thru earlier today. :grr: anyway...

Grogan, ext3, so your probably right. Mainly I was just checking the program out to see how far he got with the write support.

But what I do use, is Partition Magic 8's file explorer for read and write to ext2/ext3. So far I haven't had any problems, it's worked like a charm.

Tho it's not a free program, I highly recommend it for anyone who wants read/write acess to their ext2/ext3 filesystems.

[Grogan]

They should be able to perfect write support before too long. They've got the source code for everything they need (and for the Windows side of it, they don't need source code... they just need to know how to interface with Microsoft's subsystems)

Sorry to hear about your bad weather. A good UPS is well worth the money. I resisted buying one for years, but when I first moved back here the power was going out almost daily for a period of weeks and really screwing me up. As soon as I got the UPS online, it magically stopped and we've rarely had power outages since. Those things really work! :roflmao:

[Dramen]

Thas funny, maybe I should get a UPS too, then I might see the sun again. :O

I really am sick of the power problem here, we do have a lot of electrical storms and I also think that this crummy apt. complex is wired like crap cuz we get outtages during most storms. Even when it's real hot and lots of folks are using AC's there are power outs or sags like crazy.

any recommends, that would handle 2 pc's?

[Grogan]

I have an MGE UPS here (the selection wasn't too good and it was the only one I could find big enough for what I wanted in my local area), but I'd probably recommend an APC or Triplite 1000 VA unit if you're going to run two PCs. I run two PCs and one monitor (in addition to router and DSL modem AC adapters) off a 750 VA unit, but that's probably pushing it. I seem to have plenty of time though. I'd probably go start the generator after about 15 minutes if the power didn't come back anyways.

APC and Triplite are two commonly accepted brands of UPS and you wouldn't go wrong with either.

[BobGuy]

My APC back-ups pro 1000 works just fine with 2 computers, 3 monitors, external modems, etc. The battries finally went dead after 6 years.

So I shall soon get a new APC here.

[Dramen]

That's just about my setup too, 2 pc's, 1 monitor, router, cable modem.. ok, 1000 VA, APC or triplite. Thanks Grogan. :)

[Case]

Originally posted by BobGuy
The battries finally went dead after 6 years.

So I shall soon get a new APC here.

You might just price the battery . . . save you some bucks, and it's easy to replace . . .