Ext2 Installable File System for Windows

When it comes to the file systems, Windows and Linux are not exactly known to play nice with each other. Linux can read most of the Microsoft file systems up until NTFS. (The reason being that the file allocation table was not proprietary to DOS or Windows.) Special software is required to get Linux systems to use NTFS. For Windows users who need to switch between file system, an the Linux file systems, the most common of which are ext2 and ext3 present a special problem. Windows cannot easily be persuaded to read or even see a non-NTFS or FAT volume. A new freeware application has emerged called Ext Installable File System for Windows

Software that allows Windows users to move files back and forth between NT file systems use in the home versions of XP and later and use, appropriately enough in the business network operating system since Windows NT has been long in coming. Fortunately, someone finally came up with an answer for Windows users who may need to move files between Windows partitions and their Linux volumes or merely just to see what is on their Linux volumes from within Windows itself. (Gamers who like Linux particularly for other applications are most likely to have dual-boot systems.)

Much like the utility that lets you use NTFS systems on Linux volumes that comes with Knoppix is free, this utility, in keeping with the spirit of many Linux applications is free to the Windows XP and Vista users who choose to download it. Ext2 Installable File System for Windows is freeware - meaning that there is no charge for its use. Unlike many similar applications, it is not open source. That means that should you encounter a bug or want to modify the Ext2 Installable File System for Windows software to meet your needs, you cannot do so without permission from the authors.

For people who need read and write access to a Linux volume from Windows, Ext2's installable file system can do it. It is not a difficult program to use, but as with any such application knowing what the end user is doing can prevent the need to find technical support for it. Ext2 Installable File system for Windows can be downloaded here. For those who do not need Windows to place nice with Linux, something the Microsoft operating system is not noted for doing, this application may not meet your needs.