Tools to access Linux Partitions from Windows
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It happens sometimes you need to access your files on Linux partitions from Windows, and you realize it isn’t possible easily. Not really, with these tools in hand -- it’s very easy for you to access files on your Linux partitions from Windows
Explore2fs
Explore2fs is a GUI explorer tool for accessing ext2 and ext3 filesystems. It runs under all versions of Windows and can read almost any ext2 and ext3 filesystem.
Project Home Page :- http://www.chrysocome.net/explore2fs
Latest Version :- 1.07
Sample Screenshot
DiskInternals Linux Reader
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.
Project Home Page :- http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/
Latest Version :- 1.0
Sample Screenshot
Ext2 Installable File System for Windows
It provides Windows NT4.0/2000/XP/2003 with full access to Linux Ext2 volumes (read access and write access). This may be useful if you have installed both Windows and Linux as a dual boot environment on your computer.
Project Home Page :- http://www.fs-driver.org/
Latest Version :- 1.10c
Sample Screenshot
rfsd: ReiserDriver
ReiserDriver is an Installable File System Driver (IFSD), used to easily (and natively!) read ReiserFS disk partitions under Microsoft Windows (2K/XP) by allowing ReiserFS partitions to appear as additional disks to the Windows operating system.
Project Home Page :- http://sourceforge.net/projects/rfsd/
Latest Version :- 1
Ext2 IFS for Windows does not work properly with directory and file names encoded using UTF-8 so cyrillic file names seems to be very odd in Windows Explorer.
Is it possible to reach your MacOS files too? its the same filesystem isn’t it?
@Robert
No. MacOS uses HFS+ not Ext2/3.
You may want to reiterate that the programs above “access files” in “read-only” mode and does not allow you to write from Windows to the Linux Ext2/Ext3 file system partitions.
Is there anything that can access LVM?
@Jj
Did you miss the link for the “Ext2 Installable File System for Windows”? It clearly states that it provides “Windows NT4.0/2000/XP/2003/Vista with full access to Linux Ext2 volumes (read access and write access).” I use this to write to my ext3 filesystem and have yet to run into any serious problems. However, I don’t spend much time in Windows, and so I haven’t really used it enough to recommend it as safe.
You forgot this one ext2fsd.sourceforge.net
You also forgot a tool for ReiserFS.
Is called
Thanks! I’ve been looking for something to access my linux partition from windows 😀
I need to repair an ext3 filesytem, preferably under windows as I know nothing about linux, but have a corrupted filesystem on the storage partition that I need to repair (I don’t care if the files are kept or not but the PVR it’s from needs to know that the space is free, NOT full as it keeps claiming). The MBR, system and swap partitions are fine.
What do I do? Can I run chkdsk on it if it’s mounted natively with ‘Ext2 Installable File System for Windows’? Are there any other tools that can repair the files and mark bad sectors as not for use so they can be ignored and the other ones used (temporarily). I will then clone the drive to another non-failing one and repair the storage partition again somehow so it uses all the sectors on the non-faulty disk. It seems like a major mission, but it would be nice to resurrect this PVR, it was costly! There’s no guides on the net as it’s not a popular one, and is hard-drive dependent, not ROM-dependent for the system.
I’ve tried mounting them with the above drivers in read-only mode, the drives and files can be seen OK (storage space partition reports nothing in it).
Any help appreciated, I’ve done a fair few hours’ research on this so far already and no answers save going into Linux from a live CD and using the FSCK command. I’m not comfortable with this right now, although I’m going to learn Linux as it’s a good idea. I’d rather be recording TV whilst I take the hours and hours to learn it though!
i am using linux and windows dual os. as i need to access the windows files in linux gui is there any software for this issue. i using ubuntu 710. i need a software to install in linux.
YAReG is a GUI for rfstool. Very nice!
http://yareg.akucom.de
i triple boot: 2 ubuntus and xp
i can access 1 ubuntu but no the other
🙁
i can access 8.04 but no 8.10
why is that?
Guys ,Need help .My system is on Dual OS with Ubuntu 9.04 and Windows 7.Though I am able to access windows files from Ubuntu but unable to access files of Ubuntu from Windows 7.
Any Suggestion is appreciated .. 🙂
i want to access my ubuntu 9.10 files from windows 7.. help pls??
Having Windoze 7 related issues as well. These solutions do not seem to be compatible as 7 apparently can’t access ext filesystems. This is discussed here: http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1069608.html
Leave it to M$ to make dual booting a major chore.
i have ubuntu 9.10 installed in windows
these are not working
is ther any other way?
As far as I know, Ubuntu 9.10 uses ext4 by default. That’s why it might not be accessed from Windows.
A year ago I used a program with ‘ext2’ in its name (don’t remember). It claimed to support ext2, but also worked fine with ext3.
So you may want to reinstall Ubuntu (yes, Windows way) using ext3.
None of the products discussed here support either Windows 7 or ext4, both of which I use and which are becoming more in demand (ext4 used by Ubuntu 9.10 and the upcoming 10.04). Don’t any of the firms firms producing these products believe in keeping themselves current?
after tryin all the options aforementioned, I have to say EXT2fsd is the best program for accessing the ubuntu 9.04 partition on a windows 7 64 bit machine. Thanks, whoever mentioned it.
Are you talking about EXT2IFS from here? ( http://www.fs-driver.org/index.html ). I have Ubuntu 10.04 with EXT4 and Win 7 . It can’t be installed on Win 7 ( so says the installer ). How do you get it installed on Win 7 ? Where did you download the working version?
TIA
I would like to be able to install on Windows 7 also, but am prevented by the installer.
Same here, NONE of the alternatives here work on Windows 7 (64bit in my case).
So No Soup for us for now.
Anyone has an alternative please let us know ASAP
To install Ext2IFS in Windows 7, right click on installer “Ext2IDS_1_11a.exe” wateva then -> Conpatibility -> Run this program in compatibility mode for: Windows XP (Service Pack 3) -> OK. Run again and bung…works fine*
*With Ext2/3 and Windows 7 x86/x64…not sure about Ext4 (so for you FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU)
I use Windows 7 Ultimate x64 as a main diagnostics system to test hardware. As for hard drives in particular, I use a couple methods to test and view them, either by USB adapters, or directly, by sata or ide controllers. I hate not even seeing the drive then having to hop over to a linux system and test it there etc.
Since I am tired of installing and uninstalling junk that doesn’t do what is claimed, and as I found so far, NOBODY has mentioned anything on this software about what I would need it for.
I know I am not alone on this issue.
I am curious if E2fs, DiskInternals, or VV or some other program will be an automatic read for ALL Linux and Unix and OS drives to be viewed, scanned, and tested from one Windows PC never requiring to launch an additional program other than Windows Explorer?
MS Winows is the ultimate Point-N-Click Operating Sytem, with by far the largest number of programs and utilities available that actually work, BUT, it’s headed downhill fast.
A Side Note on that, is the upcoming Win8, which will be a CLOUD BASED OS, won’t that be nice???? That will fully and COMPLETELY ELIMINATE any need for some dam DICTATOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY NEED TO GET SEARCH WARRANTS.
SAY GOOD BYE TO YOUR RIGHTS TO PRIVACY !!!
Windows 7, the LAST personal version…
Windows XP, the last efficient version…
Windows Vista, the first big mistake…
Windows 8, THE END… ANY PC KNOWS YOU TOO!!!
That means everything about you!
The Mystical Babylon is HERE…
The Internet!
Saved my life, thank you.
Only DiskInternals Linux Reader work in Windows 8.
Paragon extfs for windows works in Windows 8