UPDATE: New tools "LTOOLS" and "Ext2Read" included. Thanks to our readers "ThatGuy" and "Ashish Rohilla" for sharing them...
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 doesn't 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.
Wouldn't it be better if we could access Linux partitions from Windows? Today we are sharing 5 interesting FREE tools which allow access to 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)
- Ext2Read
- LTOOLS
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 (2K/XP/VISTA/7, X86/AMD64).
Ext2Read:
Ext2Read is an explorer like utility to explore ext2/ext3/ext4 files. It now supports LVM2 and EXT4 extents. It can be used to view and copy files and folders. It can recursively copy entire folders. It can also be used to view and copy disk and file.
LTOOLS:
The LTOOLS are a set of command line tools to read and write Linux ext2, ext3 and ReiserFS filesystems (Linux's standard filesystems) from DOS or Windows running on the same machine.
It also comes with GUI programs "LTOOLSgui" (Java based graphical user interface) and LTOOLSnet (.NET based user interface).
This article was posted by VG in following section: Linux, Software, Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
If you enjoyed this article, you can subscribe to our RSS feed or free newsletter to get all new articles directly in your Inbox. Also check out our most popular articles and archive to read other interesting articles. If you have some news or tip to share, please send us.
uday
Hi.. Vishal
i want u install linux by partioning memory.. i m worried if proper partioning is not then my windows os will not work..
can u plz tell me each step i hav to do while partioning properly.. n then allocate it to linux.. I know i can pay to some ppl n install it.. but i want to do it my self.. plz help..
Do reply on through email..
thanking u..
uday
VG
^^ Most of the current Linux distros come with automatic partitions. So you can choose the option to automatic create partitions for Linux and remain the existing Windows partition.
gnani
Thanks u Vishal
Sowmi
Hi sir can you plz help me out by saying how the access of EXT3 files in a windows OS happens exactly????
I am gonna take up a project of building an application to read n write ext3 files in windows.... plzzzz do help me !!!
Thank u!!!
denis
Thanks for this article... i was just looking for a ext2fs alternative....
BUt I wonder if it works with windows 7 and it would be nice if we could have a nice benchmarking on all these softs... :)
cheers,
denis
Fitoschido
Excelent article! We need more articles of Linux, VG, some people need alternatives! XD
malgova
thanks a lot.... i'm doing a project in it. this is very useful for me.
Rizwan
he, thanks vishal, it was immensely helpful, especially for a linux newbie like me
Mutz777
VG, need support for ext4 FS. I'm using Ubuntu 10.04. none of these tools support ext4.
Would be helpful if you can find a tool to do so...
Mutz777
^^VG, Checked it. Sometimes the program manages to read it for while and then the program gets stuck, but mostly it says "Unmountable File System". Any other tools? Or is there a fix for the problem?