How I Manage Files in My Linux-Windows Dual Boot PC

Are you frustrated by the clunky file-sharing acquisition of a dual footwear system? Are you perplexed by however some OSes tin stock the aforesaid RAM, CPU, GPU, but not the retention space? Well, here’s my applicable hole for seamlessly sharing files betwixt my Linux-Windows dual footwear PC.

If you're similar maine and tally some Linux and Windows connected the aforesaid machine, you've astir apt faced the file-sharing headache. For years, I struggled with this problem—needing files from my Linux partition portion moving connected Windows and having to reboot my strategy to get them. After aggregate failed solutions and countless reboots that derailed my workflow, I yet recovered a setup that works flawlessly. Here's my travel and what really solved the problem.

Linux Can Access Windows Files, but It's Not Ideal

Technically, you can move files astir successful a Linux-Windows dual footwear system, but it’s not optimal. You see, Windows 11 (and 10) uses the NTFS record system portion Linux tin use EXT4, BTRFS, ZFS, and others. The contented is that Linux supports the NTFS record system, but Windows doesn’t enactment immoderate of the Linux record systems.

This means, let’s say, you’re logged into your Windows system, and you request a record that’s connected the Linux partition. Well, you can’t unfastened the record manager and drawback it. Instead, you request to restart your system, footwear into your Linux partition, transcript the record you request and determination it into your Windows partition, restart your strategy again, footwear into the Windows partition, and past usage it!

Now, immoderate radical don’t request to notation files betwixt OSes that often, and for them this workflow is fine. But I’m ever downloading files and taking screenshots, and I request a mode to rapidly entree files betwixt Oses, and this method wholly breaks my workflow. This is wherefore I request a amended mode to entree my Linux files straight from my Windows system.

Accessing Linux Files From Windows Is a Mess

There are a fewer tools that let you to access your Linux partition from Windows. But again, nary of them are perfect! For example, there's a free and open-source (FOSS) instrumentality called Ext2Read that allows you to entree Linux files from Windows, but it lone works if the Linux partition is formatted successful Ext4, Ext3, oregon Ext2. Unfortunately, I usage Garuda Linux, which uses the BTRFS record strategy for its partitions, truthful it was a no-go for me!

That said, adjacent if you usage a Linux distro utilizing the supported record strategy (for instance, Ubuntu), bash enactment that the work and constitute speeds thin to beryllium connected the slower side.

Now, the adjacent enactment is simply a paid instrumentality called Linux File System for Windows by Paragon Software. This 1 is faster, with much features, and tin work (not write) the BTRFS record system—meaning I tin transcript files from the Linux strategy but not paste caller ones into it—which, portion limiting, is bully capable for my usage case!

However, arsenic a Linux user, I americium not successful the wont of unnecessarily shelling retired wealth for paid software—not until I person exhausted each my options and made definite determination aren't immoderate FOSS alternatives. And wouldn’t you cognize it, determination is simply a amended option!

How External Storage Can Fix This Issue

While I couldn't find a portion of bundle that could assistance maine hole this problem, I did find a portion of hardware cleanable for the job—my thumb drive! I realized if I connected my thumb thrust to my PC, I had entree to a retention strategy that was accordant crossed some operating systems.

All I request to bash is format the thumb thrust to exFAT truthful that some Windows and Linux tin work it, and I americium bully to go. As such, files I cognize I mightiness request connected some operating systems, I conscionable determination onto the thumb drive, and they’re accessible to maine whenever I request them. Unfortunately, it inactive wasn’t perfect.

The record transportation speeds were noticeably sluggish, making ample record operations painful. The 64GB capableness rapidly became a regulation arsenic my projects grew. And having my thumb thrust permanently plugged into my machine defeated its intent arsenic a portable retention device.

I needed thing better—a much imperishable solution that offered the accessibility of outer retention without the limitations. And so, I yet transitioned to my existent system!

I presently usage a shared partition which some Windows and Linux tin access. This bypasses each the drawbacks of utilizing an outer retention instrumentality arsenic it’s amended integrated, faster, usually cheaper, and provides much retention space.

Ideally, I'd suggest you buy a caller SSD oregon HDD and usage that arsenic a shared partition. However, if you don't privation to put immoderate money, you tin shrink an existing thrust to get the other retention abstraction and usage that arsenic a shared partition. Either way, the halfway doctrine is the same—use a record format that is readable by some Windows and Linux.

Before we start, let's fig retired which thrust we privation to shrink to marque country for the shared partition. I americium assuming you person 2 carnal drives, 1 with Windows and the different 1 with Linux. My proposal would beryllium to shrink the thrust with Linux, since it's much assets businesslike and usually takes up little space. That said, if your Windows thrust has much space, consciousness escaped to shrink that instead.

Now, if you determine to shrink your Windows partition, you tin easy bash that utilizing the Windows Disk Management utility. You tin travel our usher connected resizing a partition successful Windows 10 that besides works connected Windows 11—just beryllium definite to adhd an NTFS partition successful the cleared-up space.

Things tin beryllium a spot trickier if you determine to shrink the Linux partition since the Windows Disk Management inferior can't work the Linux files successful it. You tin effort to usage a Linux disk absorption instrumentality similar GParted but Linux doesn't let resizing a partition that's actively successful use.

As such, you request to get a thumb stick, flash an Ubuntu ISO connected it (or immoderate Linux ISO for that matter), and footwear into it. This gives you entree to the Live Environment from wherever you tin tally GParted to shrink the size of the Linux partition and format a new, shared partition.

GParted should already beryllium installed. But if it's not, you tin easy participate the pursuing bid to instal it connected Ubuntu:

sudo apt update && apt instal gparted

Once installed, motorboat it by entering the pursuing command:

sudo gparted

From here, you tin prime the "Physical Drive" from the dropdown paper successful the top-left corner. Identify the Linux partition, right-click connected it and prime "Resize/Move". Next, alteration the size to marque country for the shared partition.

Now, right-click connected the caller partition, deed "Format to" and prime NTFS this time—not exFAT, which is meant for removable retention devices. NTFS has a journaling diagnostic which helps support against information corruption and mostly provides amended reliability for larger record systems.

Finally, deed the "Green Checkmark" to use the changes. Once done, simply restart the strategy and footwear onto your Linux PC to cheque if it’s moving properly. You should spot the caller partition successful the record manager, but if not, you’ll request to manually equine it.

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And determination you person my communicative astir however I yet solved the file-sharing occupation connected my Linux-Windows dual footwear system. Using a shared partition yet gives maine a seamless mode to stock files and folders betwixt some operating systems without immoderate compromises.