I've been a dual boot user for years, utilizing NTFS storage partitions so I can access files from both Windows and Linux. Now that I've set up a computer with only Linux Mint, I'm debating whether I still need to use NTFS. One concern is that if I encounter any issues with NTFS, I'd have to rely on Windows to fix it, and I'd prefer to keep Windows out of my Linux setup altogether. However, I might need to share files with someone using Windows. If I save documents or GIS files on ext4, can I easily send them to someone with a Windows machine or copy them to an NTFS drive for use? I'm unsure if the ext4 properties remain with the files or if they're just tied to the storage system. If files can be moved and used seamlessly between the two systems, I find no reason to keep NTFS on my dedicated Linux machine.
4 Answers
Consider using a cloud drive like Google Drive or Dropbox to share files. It makes transferring documents easy and keeps things simple across different systems.
Yes, you can definitely access the files stored on ext4 from a different system! Files and their formats are generally compatible across different operating systems. Just keep in mind that while file contents are shared, some ownership and permission details might not translate perfectly between systems. But for personal use, you're usually good to go! As for Windows sharing features, I'm not entirely sure if Mint handles SMB sharing out-of-the-box, but it’s worth checking out.
When transferring files, some NTFS permissions may convert to ext4, but if you copy to a USB drive formatted as FAT32, you'll lose those extra properties since FAT32 is simpler and doesn’t support them. For online transfers, like email or messages, they typically just send the basic file data without additional properties.
Be cautious with capitalization when moving files between ext4 and NTFS. NTFS treats 'Cat' and 'cat' as the same, while ext4 sees them as different files. So, transferring from ext4 to NTFS could lead to overwritten files if you're not careful. If you think you'll be going back to Windows often, having an NTFS partition might be a safer bet.
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