Hey everyone! I'm currently using Windows and I'm thinking about transitioning to Linux, probably Ubuntu or Fedora. I have a laptop provided through a scholarship, so I can't upgrade the built-in 256GB SSD at the moment. I want to try a dual-boot setup until I'm comfortable with Linux and get all my work done there.
My plan is to boot Linux from an external drive and keep Windows on its own separate partition. I want to dedicate the rest of the space for storage, including files and programs. I understand that programs need to be installed separately on each OS, so I'll also install them on the external drive.
What I really want to know is if Linux can read and write files on a partition used by Windows, like saving PDFs or Word documents in the same folders or having downloads saved there too. Is this possible? Are there any important things I should be aware of before I set this up? Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
Linux can read and write to NTFS partitions, which is what Windows typically uses. However, keep in mind that Windows can't read Linux partitions. So, it’s best to store your shared files on the Windows disk. Just a heads up, if the NTFS partition has issues, you'll need to fix it from Windows. Also, make sure you're using a good external SSD for Linux; standard flash drives might not cut it for speed and durability.
Yes, absolutely! I recommend formatting the shared partition as EXFAT; it's the best for compatibility between Windows and Linux.
Got it! So if I keep Windows on the C drive and all my files on the D drive, that should be fine, right?
And about the external SSD—unfortunately, I only have a decent external HDD with around 2TB available. I'm mostly running a web browser and LibreOffice on Linux, so I think performance won’t be a huge issue.