I'm setting up a new system with Windows 11 and planning to dual boot with Linux Mint. I have a 4TB HDD that I'd like to use for shared storage—think .mp3, .stl, .pdf, photos, videos, etc. What format should I use for the drive so that both Windows and Linux can access it? I know it's not crucial if it can't be done, but having both OSes access the same files would definitely make things easier for me without creating confusion while editing across systems.
2 Answers
I recommend using exFAT for your shared drive. It works across Windows and Linux as well as other devices like Android and even Apple products. Just a heads up though—while it’s good for general use, it can waste a bit of disk space if you save a lot of tiny files due to its allocation size.
NTFS is a solid choice for the drive since Windows uses it natively, and Linux can read it just fine. Just keep in mind that running games or heavy applications through Wine or Proton on the NTFS partition can lead to issues. Also, remember to disable fast startup in Windows; otherwise, it can cause problems with your hardware. If you're using an NVIDIA GPU, be prepared for potential challenges related to drivers. Overall, it should work out smoothly though!
Yeah, exFAT is decent, but just be mindful of the overhead. Sometimes you can lose a bit of space if you're storing a bunch of small files.