Can XP and Linux share the same directory and data files?

[vebo]

Hi,
I have 2 computers.  One, a 2.4 Ghz celeron,  has XP and (soon to  have) Linux. The other, a dual P2, has 98SE and (soon to have) Linux.  Each OS is on a separate 9 GB hard drive.  In addition to these I have a 120 mb 5400 rpm hard drive, an 80 GB 7200 rpm  hard drive and a 200 GB 7200 rpm hard drive.  I would like to use the three larger disks as data storage for both XP and Linux.  I have heard that Linux can read XP directories and both read and write data to XP formatted disks.  Is this true?  How stable is this?  My reason for asking this question - I do a lot of multimedia work that requires huge files, sometimes multiple projects at one time,  and it would be really helpful if I can just format the 3 data drives in XP and use them as I like.  Most of my software now is in XP but as I learn more about Linux I want t change my applications to the penguin.  I HATE WINDOWS  I must admit...i am still a DOS lover.  I oftent think if DOS had continued to be developed in a SANE and RATIONAL way the world would be a much better place today.

[SensoVision]

I have heard that Linux can read XP directories and both read and write data to XP formatted disks. Is this true?

Yes, it's true, Linux can read number of formats not only offered by XP. When I was switching to Linux, I've get my disk formatted in FAT32 so I have read and write access to it from both OSs. In those times Linux write support to NTFS was limited and generally you could only read them, now some distributions offer write support to NTFS as well but I'm not aware how well it's implemented. So would advice to have some partition formatted in FAT where you have data which need to be accessed from both OSs.

How stable is this?

I know that drivers which let you read from Windows EXT2/EXT3 disks was somewhat unstable in the past but guess it's changed now. Reading from NTFS was perfect to me and but I can't give any feedback about writing support to such partitions. FAT is working just perfect and never caused problems to any OS(BTW my girlfriend PC is running WinXP and Debian and she have WinXP partition on FAT so could access them from Linux and never had problems with this either).

My reason for asking this question - I do a lot of multimedia work that requires huge files, sometimes multiple projects at one time,  and it would be really helpful if I can just format the 3 data drives in XP and use them as I like.

I'm not sure how FAT32 is suitable for your tasks, but generally I store files of 4gb but from other side I didn't perform any manipulations on them like it's done with video stitching software.

I oftent think if DOS had continued to be developed in a SANE and RATIONAL way the world would be a much better place today.

can't say that I'm so big DOS lover like you but I like those time too Linux actually could give you both advantages of using GUI and command line, so you can perform each task in most effective way as some things are done in a much simpler way in command line than using GUI.

Let me know if you got more questions.

[donecweb]

In those times Linux write support to NTFS was limited and generally you could only read them, now some distributions offer write support to NTFS as well but I'm not aware how well it's implemented.

I don't know what distro you are thinking about but from what I have been reading on Linux forums SimplyMEPIS is one of the few distros that have the ability to read and write to NTFS partitions right out of the box. What I do know since I use it all the time is that SimplyMEPIS 6.5 reads and writes to XP and Vista NTFS partitions without any problems and does so without adding anything.

[Andy]

I HATE WINDOWS

- hate posts should be avoided!

[donecweb]

- hate posts should be avoided!

Andy, the quote was not a post to bring about hate and discontent. It was simply a declaration of how that person personally felt. By your quoting it, with a negative feeling of yours, you could have caused a hateful reaction. Also you drew attention to the phrase, you are against, again promoting it and actually bringing it to my attention where I had not paid any attention to it before and possibly to the attention of others.

[Andy]

Thanks for the lecture o wise one 

[temp_inizer]

Do not use FAT32. My solution is to use a EXT2-driver for Windows to access my /home-partition.