If you have a dual-boot system with Windows and Linux, you probably know that Windows and Linux both use different file systems. Windows uses FAT32 and NTFS file systems where as Linux uses ext2 and ext3 file systems.
You can access Windows partitions from Linux but on the other hand Windows doesnt allow access to Linux partitions.
Many times we might need to access files stored in Linux partitions and we realize that we can't access them from Windows. In this situation we have to reboot our system in Linux to access those files.
Would not it be better if we could access Linux partitions from Windows? Indeed, it would. That's why here I'm sharing 4 interesting FREE tools which allow to access Linux partitions from Windows:
- Explore2fs (Read-only Access)
- Ext2 IFS (Installable File System) (Read as well as Write Access)
- DiskInternals Linux reader (Read-only Access)
- Ext2 FSD (File System Driver) (Read as well as Write Access)
Explore2fs:
Explore2fs is a GUI explorer tool for accessing ext2 and ext3 file systems. It runs under all versions of Windows and can read almost any ext2 and ext3 file system.
Ext2 IFS (Installable File System):
Ext2 IFS provides Windows NT4.0/2000/XP/2003/Vista with full access to Linux Ext2 volumes (read access and write access). It installs a pure kernel mode file system driver Ext2fs.sys, which actually extends the Windows NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista operating system to include the Ext2 file system.
Ext2 volumes get drive letters. Files, and directories of an Ext2 volume appear in file dialogs of all applications.
DiskInternals Linux reader:
DiskInternals Linux Reader runs under Windows and allows you to browse Ext2/Ext3 Linux file systems and extract files from there. The program provides for read-only access and does not allow you to make records in Ext2/Ext3 file system partitions.
Ext2 FSD (File System Driver):
Ext2 FSD is an open source linux ext2/ext3 file system driver for Windows systems (NT/2K/XP/VISTA, X86/AMD64).
This article was posted in Linux, Software Zone, Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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Riza
That's nice ide if I install Linux anytime.
Thanks. I like your posts, Vishal.
Hari Maurya
WoW !
Kahan the ab tak
Ishi wajah se mein LINUX Uninstall kar diya tha
VG
^^ lol. Thanks for the comments guys.
dar
ManyThanks,prof VG!
Big J
Hello VG,
I am also a big Linux fan myself.
Which one of these (Ext2 IFS or Ext2 FSD ) do you use/recommend most?
Thanx for the info VG
Have a good one.
Regards,
Big J
Sora
Thank you for this vishal, i really hope you can post more articles regarding linux in the future.
Maharishi
Hey, is it possible to have Linux with Windows Vista and Windows XP running on system already? I mean to "Triple Boot" the system.
VG
^^ Yep. You can do.
@Big J
All are excellent. Try all of them and you'll come to know which one suits your needs.
Legace
Thanks VG
Big J
I want FULL access to my Linux partitions!
I am going to check out - Ext2 IFS / Ext2 FSD
Thanks again VG