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3

Can someone explain partitions to me?

rated 0 times [ 3] [ 0] / answers: 1 / hits: 739 / 1 Year ago, sat, january 21, 2023, 7:23:07

I'm installing Lubuntu and I and dual-booting it with Windows 7. I want to be able to access all files while using either OS. My Hard drive has 4 partitions,

sda1 200mb 'Windows 7 (Loader)',

sda2 480gb 'Window 7 (Loader)',

sda3 18gb 'Windows recovery' (or something close to that),

sda4 100mb and no 'System' on it.

1,2 and 3 are all 'NTFS' (I think it was) and sda4 is FAT32. I don't know what FAT32 or NTFS mean, so can

1) Someone explain what FAT32/NTFS mean and do.

2) How I can make files on the biggest partition (sda2 480 GB 'Windows 7(Loader)'), available to both operating systems.

Bare in mind I am completely new to this area of computing and have next to no idea what I'm doing. Thank you :D

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huovie

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answered 1 Year ago ingwhin · Accepted Answer

FAT32 and NTFS are both file systems. Each file system has its own way for storing and retrieving data.

Windows can use FAT (FAT*), exFAT and NTFS, where NTFS is the default.

Linux can use ext (ext*), ZFS, ReiserFS, btrfs and a lot more, including every file system Windows can use, where ext* is the default (usually ext3 or ext4).

So, if you want to be able to share data between Windows and Linux, you should choose a file system both operating systems can use. I suggest NTFS, as FAT and exFAT have their limits.

However, you cannot install Linux on a NTFS partition, so you should create a seperate system partition (ext*) to install Linux on.

You'll have to resize partitions in order to create a new partition (for Linux), because you're already using your whole disk for Windows (NTFS).

This may cause data corruption, so please make a backup of your important files before you do this, or make an image of your whole hard drive.