Preparing for Kubuntu

Averick

Averick

Averick

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Joined
5 Jul 2004
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51
Location
London
Hi all,

I'm preparing myself for the jump into the wonderful world of Linux. My current setup has two NTFS drives, one holds Windows XP (WD ~75GB Raptor) and the other is used for storage (WD ~150GB). I'm going to place an order for a third drive, (WD 500GB) which will become my primary storage drive while the current storage drive will play host to Kubuntu.

Ideally I want all three of these to be in the NTFS format with all drives being read/write accessable in either OS, however I'm not sure if this is an effective solution and would appreciate your thoughts...

I've been reading up and found there is some support for NTFS read/write from Kubuntu so I don't think this will be a problem, however I'm unsure if Kubuntu can actually be installed on an NTFS drive or even if it is wise to do so.

Finally, if you have any additional words of advice for a brand new user of Kubuntu (I do use Linux at work but I think our machines have Redhat or something, we have to RSH/SSH onto the boxes through our windows desktops using Putty or Exceed) then feel free to share it :D.

Thanks for any help you can give,
Averick.

P.S. I'm going to buy some DVD-R's for writing the Kubuntu OS, my drive can write to both +/- R and I couldn't really see a difference between the two so I stuck for -, is this the best course of action?
 
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You can't install Linux on NTFS volumes. If you value your data I wouldn't recommend trying to read and write to NTFS volumes from Linux, its not mature enough IMO yet. Linux file systems are very good and work best (believe it or not) with Linux.

As well as using SSH you'll be able to use VNC to control your new Linux machine from other locations.

It's worth taking a look at some of the excellent Ubuntu documentation at https://wiki.ubuntu.com

Good luck. :)
 
Bah, what a pain! Well if that's the way it's gotta be, then that's the way it's gotta be. I've looked that the Wiki link you gave me and it's answered most of my remaining questions.

I suppose my next course of action will be to format my new 500GB drive when I get it to NTFS. Move my current storage drives files onto it and then attempt to install Kubuntu on my current NTFS storage drive upon which it will automatically format that drive and put it in Ext2 or Ext3 format (which I am assuming are the Linux filesystems) and then I'm done :D.

Thanks for the help!
 
Most people will agree with JonRohan abotu the NTFS issues under Linux, however, READING is perfectly ok, its writing thats still not 100% mature.

I will be honest however, I do occasionally write to it and I have yet to have any issues because of it.

If you do require to have the ability to move files between WIN/LIN then it would not be a bad idea to also have a small-ish FAT32 "sharing" partition just for this?
 
Averick said:
Thanks for the input FatRakoon, I looked a little more into this and discovered this cool program... http://www.fs-driver.org/. It lets you read and write to ext2/ext3 partitions from Windows.
Click to expand...


I would not trust that one mate...

Linux reading NTFS has been around a fairly long time now, its matured and its sorted... Reading not so long, but its in a "NON-GUARANTEED BUT WORKING" stage.

This thign however, is relatively new in comparison... It might be ok to use for READING... But I would definitely NOT try writing.

At the end of the day, there is only one sure fire way to keep as safe as possible and that is to have a shared FAT32 partition.
 
Wow, well thanks to you both for alerting me to this, as a brand new user to Linux I knew I'd be needing some help and I knew the Overclockers forum would be the place to go! :D

That settles it then, a shared FAT32 partition!
 
Averick said:
Thanks for the input FatRakoon, I looked a little more into this and discovered this cool program... http://www.fs-driver.org/. It lets you read and write to ext2/ext3 partitions from Windows.
Click to expand...

FS-Driver works a treat for me and many other users.
Never had any problems with it and it is pretty mature. Seems to be the prefered method to doing NTFS stuff from in Linux.
A FAT32 partition might be a good idea if its just the occasional sharing.

Other than that it would be personal preference between NTFS in Linux of Ext3 in Windows.
 
Kamakazie! said:
FS-Driver works a treat for me and many other users.
Click to expand...

Thats great. You have not had any issues just like I have not had any issues with NTFS from inside Linux, but thats not to say you or I wont have.

I personally think its still too much to risk.

Again, its down to personal choice and we both agree on that one, but since this is his first Linux install, the last thing he needs is to give himself more aches and pains to try to recover his data should the worse happen... I know its unlikely but it does happen, and so a FAT32 partition should be the most reliable way to do things.
 
actually, you _can_ install a linux system on NTFS if you use captive or ntfs3g with fuse together with a tmpfs-backed unionfs (to handle files device nodes and fifo's) in a custom initrd ;)
 
i dont use linux have dabbled in it a couple of time hard adjusting to change though especially when you know waht programs to use for what tasks in a windows based system and not having a clue in linux :D

if you have a network you caould transfer files that way instead of a fat32 partition or using ntfs write

alternatively im wondering if it would be possible to use something like vmware or virtual pc to create a virtual middle pc that could act as a transfer mechanism ie

if you were on windows load a virtual linux install this could access the ex2 / 3 partitions and share them onto the windows network
 
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