I'm new to Linux, so bear with me if this sounds basic! I'm running into some odd freezing issues while using KDE, and I've had two of my external drives marked as 'dirty' on two separate occasions. When I try to mount them, I get an error that suggests a problem with the filesystem: something about the wrong fs type or a bad superblock. To resolve it, I've been checking and repairing these drives using Windows, but this is becoming a hassle. I read that NTFS could be at fault and that switching to EXT4 might better suit Linux, but I'm hesitant to wipe my 5TB drive since I can't just back up all the data elsewhere. Any advice on how I can permanently fix this without risking damage to my drives?
1 Answer
You might want to check a few things to avoid the dirty drive problem. First, there's a specific list of settings in Windows that you can disable to prevent this from happening. And keep in mind, if Windows is left on when the power goes out, it's important to boot into Windows again before switching to Linux to clear up any potential mess. It's like living with a messy roommate - you just have to learn to deal with their habits!
I’d love to see that list! It could really help. I’m considering a fresh install of Debian since I don’t have anything critical saved. By the way, is it true that unplugging the m.2 drive with Windows before installing Linux helps avoid using GRUB? Why would that make a difference? Cuz it’s a pain to mess with the GPU to do that!