Re: [Sheflug] How To

[lesleyb <lesley.binks [at] xxxxxxxxx>]

Alec Melling wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Every time I encounter something difficult'ish when using Linux I have a habit 
> of running back to windows. Not because I know what I am doing in Windows its 
> just that there will be an expensive tool that will do what I want... or near 
> enough not to matter. I have decided to break myself of this very nasty 
> habit, hence this email.
>
> I am using Kubuntu with KDE 3.4.2. I have a Maxtor USB HD formatted in NTFS. 
> The two do not go together. I have read only access to this drive, so 
> basically it is a useless tool.
This is normal with NTFS; Linux can r/w to FAT32.
> I know I can go back to Windos, buy a copy of Partion Magic and cure this 
> problem by re-formatting the drive with a Linux friendly FS.
>
> The crux of my long winded question is: How can I gain access to this drive 
> and re-format it in Kubuntu?
Well, if you re-format to another file system (whether you do it in 
Linux or Windows) you will lose everything on the drive.
> A supplementary question is that given that this drive will be Linux only from 
> now on, what would be the best file system to format it in?
Depends what you want.

If you want to keep Windows and Linux in a dual boot situation then I 
think would have to reformat the drive in Windows to give an NTFS for 
the programs and a FAT32 for data plus any programs to run under WINE. 
Or two separate FAT32 partitions one for programs and one for data.
That construct simplifies what you need to mount when you are in Linux. 
 You can mount your data partition and access that r/w and have a 
onetime choice on whether to mount the program partition r or r/w but 
choose whether to mount it under Linux at all.

With data on the FAT32 partition, you can access it using Linux programs.

Make sure you back up important data on both your Linux and Windows 
partitions before you do this and that you have the necessary disks to 
re-install any programs you require.

You need to be careful with the MBR so you might want to familiarise 
yourself with the boot loader you are using to dual boot so that you 
know how to rescue yourself out of the situation where Windows 
overwrites the MBR and you want to get back to your Linux install.

Alternatively, backup your data, get rid of Windows and start afresh 
with a single OS install of your favourite distro's latest.

HTH

Lesley
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