convert ntfs to ext3 (or other linux partition)

swooshOnLn

Can you convert ntfs in such a way that I can use the drive as a storage device as well (while keeping the data thats already on it)? What i mean is this:

I have 3 Harddrives on my computer.

/hda 120 GB (Windows XP Pro:ntfs)
/hdb 120 GB (Storage:ntfs)
/hdd 80 GB (Gentoo Linux:ext3)

I want to eventually convert /hdb to ext3 file system, however, all my music and such is stored on it, so I dont want to just format it and be done. Also, I do not want to loose my Windows partition, or I would covert it to ext3, copy /hdb to /hda, and then format /hdb to ext3, but that would take alot of time, and I would loose my windows partition. Can I just simply convert /hdb to ext3 (or another writeable linux partition) and keep the data thats already on it? (Like converting FAT32 to NTFS in windows). This sounds tricky, but Im up for suggestions!
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My_World · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:45 pm Post subject:

Short answer, no.

It is not possible since you need to format the drive totaly as etx3 and if you have ever done this on a drive with data on it you will notice it informs you that the data will be lost.

The best bet would be to get another hd and copy everything to it, format it as ext3 and copy everything back. Maybe a friend or someone could help you out?

Also, if at all possible, try and do the copy work from linux using the CLI, I found it much faster than any other way of doing it. (Copied over 200Gb the week-end in no time at all!)

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swooshOnLn · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:11 pm Post subject:

ok thankyou very much. Im just gonna copy as much of the contents as i can to my linux partition (for temp), and then the rest to the widnows drive, format the storage drive, and then copy eveything back. Thanks for your help though!
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dj015 · n00b Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 11

NTFS supports sparse files, so theoretically you could use a tool like convertfs. But don't - for 120 GB you'll be waiting for around 40 days (it's that slow).

I wrote a similar, better tool, which I haven't gotten around to releasing just yet. Would you be interested in trying it?

swooshOnLn · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 4:02 pm Post subject:

what does it do? covert ntfs to ext3?
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vipernicus · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 6:48 pm Post subject:

I don't know if it would work, but you might be able to use partition magic?
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lomi · n00b Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 73

partition magic only converts windows partitions to windows partitions