FixMbr?

[ManyBeers]

I tested this (am replying from Ubuntu) and the boot.ini method works
although I have a desktop and LBA enabled. My experience was that I
got practice deleting and reinstalling my Linux distributions.

Let me ask you a question. Have you put this software on your dual boot
setup?
http://www.fs-driver.org/index.html. It reads and writes to ext2/3 for
Windows.
My Ubuntu install is now L: drive in Windows and Swap is S: drive.I named
them.

 

[Stephen Harris]

Let me ask you a question. Have you put this software on your dual boot
setup?
http://www.fs-driver.org/index.html. It reads and writes to ext2/3 for
Windows.
My Ubuntu install is now L: drive in Windows and Swap is S: drive.I named
them.

No, I didn't know anything about it. I see one warning,
"If you mount an Ext3 file system as an Ext2 file system and the file
system is not cleanly dismounted, (e.g. due to a system crash), you have
to run the e2fsck tool. (Linux does it automatically.) Running e2fsck
can take several hours on large volumes. You do not benefit from
journaling the Ext3 file system, because you have to run e2fsck."

I ran the automatic install for installing Ubuntu on the largest free
space. I think it made everything Ext3 except the swap file which is 82.

I deleted most of the Acronis Secure Zone which is fat32. So I had
a partition which Linux and Windows could share.
mkdir /mnt/share
mount -t msdos(or vfat) /dev/sda5(my fat32 F: drive) /mnt/share
Then you also have to umount it so one can make manual scripts for
both operations which is like a batch file or put it in fstab which
is automatic. So you can transfer files, but it takes reboots.
This Ext2IFS_1_11.exe may very well work better.
You can email me at "TeX" plus "tonyx", one word, at gmail dot com.
since the topic is drifting away from Windows XP, if you like.

 

[ManyBeers]

No, I didn't know anything about it. I see one warning,
"If you mount an Ext3 file system as an Ext2 file system and the file
system is not cleanly dismounted, (e.g. due to a system crash), you have
to run the e2fsck tool. (Linux does it automatically.) Running e2fsck
can take several hours on large volumes. You do not benefit from
journaling the Ext3 file system, because you have to run e2fsck."

I ran the automatic install for installing Ubuntu on the largest free
space. I think it made everything Ext3 except the swap file which is 82.

I deleted most of the Acronis Secure Zone which is fat32. So I had
a partition which Linux and Windows could share.
mkdir /mnt/share
mount -t msdos(or vfat) /dev/sda5(my fat32 F: drive) /mnt/share
Then you also have to umount it so one can make manual scripts for
both operations which is like a batch file or put it in fstab which
is automatic. So you can transfer files, but it takes reboots.
This Ext2IFS_1_11.exe may very well work better.
You can email me at "TeX" plus "tonyx", one word, at gmail dot com.
since the topic is drifting away from Windows XP, if you like.

The only reason I asked about the exts read/write software is because the
other day Windows
left some kind of 1kb file on the drive without me knowing about it. I don't
know if that would be a problem or not. Ubuntu doesn't show the file. I might
reinstall the program and set the Linux
drives as read only to avoid that situation from happening again. I don't
see any way of doing it
from within Windows.

 

[Stephen Harris]

The only reason I asked about the exts read/write software is because the
other day Windows
left some kind of 1kb file on the drive without me knowing about it. I don't
know if that would be a problem or not. Ubuntu doesn't show the file. I might
reinstall the program and set the Linux
drives as read only to avoid that situation from happening again. I don't
see any way of doing it
from within Windows.

http://www.fs-driver.org/faq.html#not_sup_feat

"The current version of the Ext2 file system driver does not
maintain access rights. All users can access all the Ext2
volumes that a drive letter is created for. For example, if
a drive letter has been created for an Ext2 volume, which is
the root volume of a Linux installation, you can simply read
and modify files such as /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow. User
names are readable and passwords of these users can be quite
easily cracked and modified!"

SH: Perhaps your situation is also dangerous, I don't know,
are you the sole user? The program below is designed to do
what you are thinking of doing now, making Linux read only.

http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/

"How to get safe and quick access to alternative file systems?
DiskInternals Linux Reader is a new easy way to do this. This
program plays the role of a bridge between your Windows and
Ext2/Ext3 Linux file systems. This easy-to-use tool runs under
Windows and allows you to browse Ext2/Ext3 Linux file systems
and extract files from there.

There are a number of evident merits of the program, which
you should know. First of all, DiskInternals Linux Reader is
absolutely free. Secondly, the program provides for read-only
access and *does not allow you to make records* in Ext2/Ext3
file system partitions. This guarantees that the interference
in an alternative file system
will not affect the work of Linux later.

Apart from this, it is necessary to note, that it gives you an
opportunity to use common Windows Explorer for extracting data.
A preview option for pictures is one more pleasant point, which
is worth mentioning."

SH: I will download this, experiment and let you know the results.

 

[Stephen Harris]

The only reason I asked about the exts read/write software is because the
other day Windows
left some kind of 1kb file on the drive without me knowing about it. I don't
know if that would be a problem or not. Ubuntu doesn't show the file. I might
reinstall the program and set the Linux
drives as read only to avoid that situation from happening again. I don't
see any way of doing it
from within Windows.

http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/

Well, it seems to work well, I extracted a Ubuntu ebook
from my Linux home partition and imported it into Windows.
It didn't ask me for any money yet. I think the Fat32
partition will still be necessary as a transport point
to import files into Ubuntu so they can be "journaled".

 

[ManyBeers]

http://www.fs-driver.org/faq.html#not_sup_feat

"The current version of the Ext2 file system driver does not
maintain access rights. All users can access all the Ext2
volumes that a drive letter is created for. For example, if
a drive letter has been created for an Ext2 volume, which is
the root volume of a Linux installation, you can simply read

and modify files such as /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow. User
names are readable and passwords of these users can be quite
easily cracked and modified!"

SH: Perhaps your situation is also dangerous, I don't know,
are you the sole user? The program below is designed to do
what you are thinking of doing now, making Linux read only.

http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/

"How to get safe and quick access to alternative file systems?
DiskInternals Linux Reader is a new easy way to do this. This
program plays the role of a bridge between your Windows and
Ext2/Ext3 Linux file systems. This easy-to-use tool runs under
Windows and allows you to browse Ext2/Ext3 Linux file systems
and extract files from there.

There are a number of evident merits of the program, which
you should know. First of all, DiskInternals Linux Reader is
absolutely free. Secondly, the program provides for read-only
access and *does not allow you to make records* in Ext2/Ext3
file system partitions. This guarantees that the interference
in an alternative file system
will not affect the work of Linux later.

Apart from this, it is necessary to note, that it gives you an
opportunity to use common Windows Explorer for extracting data.
A preview option for pictures is one more pleasant point, which
is worth mentioning."

SH: I will download this, experiment and let you know the results.

Ok:
That program I linked to is also free and I know if I reinstall it there is
an install option to make the disks read-only.

 

[ManyBeers]

http://www.fs-driver.org/faq.html#not_sup_feat

"The current version of the Ext2 file system driver does not
maintain access rights. All users can access all the Ext2
volumes that a drive letter is created for. For example, if
a drive letter has been created for an Ext2 volume, which is
the root volume of a Linux installation, you can simply read
and modify files such as /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow. User
names are readable and passwords of these users can be quite
easily cracked and modified!"

SH: Perhaps your situation is also dangerous, I don't know,
are you the sole user? The program below is designed to do
what you are thinking of doing now, making Linux read only.

http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/

"How to get safe and quick access to alternative file systems?
DiskInternals Linux Reader is a new easy way to do this. This
program plays the role of a bridge between your Windows and
Ext2/Ext3 Linux file systems. This easy-to-use tool runs under
Windows and allows you to browse Ext2/Ext3 Linux file systems
and extract files from there.

There are a number of evident merits of the program, which
you should know. First of all, DiskInternals Linux Reader is
absolutely free. Secondly, the program provides for read-only
access and *does not allow you to make records* in Ext2/Ext3
file system partitions. This guarantees that the interference
in an alternative file system
will not affect the work of Linux later.

Apart from this, it is necessary to note, that it gives you an
opportunity to use common Windows Explorer for extracting data.
A preview option for pictures is one more pleasant point, which
is worth mentioning."

SH: I will download this, experiment and let you know the results.

I actually checked that program out first but decided on the read/wtite
software.Maybe I will get this stuff instead after all.

 

[ManyBeers]

http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/

Well, it seems to work well, I extracted a Ubuntu ebook
from my Linux home partition and imported it into Windows.
It didn't ask me for any money yet. I think the Fat32
partition will still be necessary as a transport point
to import files into Ubuntu so they can be "journaled".

Do you use system Restore.? Well I do and always have, but only on my C:drive
and.Well with ext2/3 I now notice that monitoring of my L;(Ubuntu) partition
is switched on. I try to disable it but I get a message that "Windows is
unable
to enable/disable Sysyem Restore on one or more drives. Reboot and try again")
So even though the drive is being monitored whwn I look at the Ubuntu
partition
ther is no System Volume Information folder. So I don't know what is going
on there.

 

[Stephen Harris]

Do you use system Restore.? Well I do and always have, but only on my C:drive
and.Well with ext2/3 I now notice that monitoring of my L;(Ubuntu) partition
is switched on. I try to disable it but I get a message that "Windows is
unable
to enable/disable Sysyem Restore on one or more drives. Reboot and try again")
So even though the drive is being monitored whwn I look at the Ubuntu
partition
ther is no System Volume Information folder. So I don't know what is going
on there.

I have system restore turned on and the Ubuntu partition does not
show up. Windows probably shows this drive because you assigned a
drive letter to it and I didn't. Why not write down a map of the drive
letters and their corresponding Linux equivalents? An example is my
C: drive is hda1. Linux: sudo fdisk -l | grep NTFS | awk '{print $1}'
where that -l is a lower case L. I think it is likely that if you
remove the drive letter assignments and reboot it will disappear. I
don't know whether that system restore info is genuine and takes space.

I'm going to boot into Ubuntu and play around.I forgot to mention that
sudo mount -a will start the fstab edits mounting of Windows partitions.

I'm a competent Linux user, but not a really good one, and *not* expert.

So let they buyer beware,
Stephen

 

[ManyBeers]

I have system restore turned on and the Ubuntu partition does not
show up. Windows probably shows this drive because you assigned a
drive letter to it and I didn't. Why not write down a map of the drive
letters and their corresponding Linux equivalents? An example is my
C: drive is hda1. Linux: sudo fdisk -l | grep NTFS | awk '{print $1}'
where that -l is a lower case L. I think it is likely that if you
remove the drive letter assignments and reboot it will disappear. I
don't know whether that system restore info is genuine and takes space.

I'm going to boot into Ubuntu and play around.I forgot to mention that
sudo mount -a will start the fstab edits mounting of Windows partitions.

I'm a competent Linux user, but not a really good one, and *not* expert.

So let they buyer beware,
Stephen

I have removed the ext2 IFS for Windows software and will install the
Diskternals software. I have know reason to be writing to Ubuntu from
Windows or vice versa. I think that's better way to go.

 

[Stephen Harris]

:


I have removed the ext2 IFS for Windows software and will install the
Diskternals software. I have know reason to be writing to Ubuntu from
Windows or vice versa. I think that's better way to go.

Well, the ntfs-3g install went smoothly. I can extract files from
Ubuntu to Windows or extract files from Ubuntu to Windows. Since
it doesn't come up all that often, the old way of using Fat32 as
an intermediary step in transferring files should work well enough.
I think you mentioned you had a fat32 partition. You may need sudo,
mount -t vfat /dev/hdxx /mnt/share and remember to umount /mnt/share
share would be a name for a Linux directory made by mkdir /mnt/share

Good luck,
Stephen

 

[ManyBeers]

Well, the ntfs-3g install went smoothly. I can extract files from
Ubuntu to Windows or extract files from Ubuntu to Windows. Since
it doesn't come up all that often, the old way of using Fat32 as
an intermediary step in transferring files should work well enough.
I think you mentioned you had a fat32 partition. You may need sudo,
mount -t vfat /dev/hdxx /mnt/share and remember to umount /mnt/share
share would be a name for a Linux directory made by mkdir /mnt/share

Good luck,
Stephen

Yes I have a fat32 partition which is for sharing between the 2 systems.
That is all I need.