Linux Reader [foreign filesystem explorer]

[nycjv321]

@Toxteth O'Grady: everything is outlined in documentation...

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

but to make things simplistic for me what file system is it?

[Midas]

DiskInternals Linux Reader is a freeware portable Explorer like utility for accessing Linux and MacOS filesystems (without fuss), a possibility the Windows side has lacked for ages.

Linux Reader installer download includes both 32 and 64 bit versions and can be (Uni)extracted (discard '$COMMONFILES' and '$PLUGINSDIR').

Although portable in my (brief) tests, as it saves settings to 'fsm.ini' in the program folder, Linux Reader is not completely stealth -- it saves the last path it was run from to 'HKLM\SOFTWARE\DiskInternals\LinuxReader' and to 'HKCU\SOFTWARE\DiskInternals\LinuxReader', but those keys can easily be deleted without major consequences.

How to get safe and quick access to alternative file systems? DiskInternals Linux Reader is a new easy way to do this. This program plays the role of a bridge between your Windows and Ext2/Ext3/Ext4, HFS and ReiserFS file systems. [...] It means that it is possible to access absolutely any file on a Linux disk from Windows. The program can create and open disk images. Linux Reader is 100% FREE.

Download latest Linux Reader (currently v1.9.3.0) from http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader.

[SYSTEM]

I didn't know there was any software that allows you to view ext4 partitions and works on Windows 8.x, let alone portable.

I was about to submit DiskInternals Linux Reader to the database, but then I noticed it already has an entry: http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=1159.

Entry updated + voted.

[Midas]

I was about to submit DiskInternals Linux Reader to the database, but then I noticed it already has an entry: http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=1159.

Neither did I -- seems like I only searched forums... anyway, voted.

[webfork]

... utility for accessing Linux and MacOS filesystems (without fuss), a possibility the Windows side has lacked for ages.

Wow. This supports SO much. Just the Mac filesystem reader component is a very big deal. I just updated the screenshot, description, and added it to the "Recovery" subcategory just because I think this falls into that arena.

This is a good day for freeware. Thanks Midas.

[Midas]

You can thank AlephX, Linux Reader original poster, at viewtopic.php?p=3501#p3501 (just found his submission ).

[bzl333]

is there a (free) partition manager in windows that can see and work with linux partitions?
that would be useful also.

[Midas]

You could check out one of these:

- MiniTool Partition Wizard Free (http://www.minitool.com/partition-manag ... -home.html)

- Aomei Partition Assistant SE (http://www.disk-partition.com/free-part ... nager.html)

- Macrium Reflect Free (http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx)

My recommendation, though, is that you grab any linux distro liveCD ISO you fancy (must have Gparted included!) and make a bootable USB with Universal USB Installer (http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=1834) or YUMI (http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=2368).

[SYSTEM]

My recommendation, though, is that you grab any linux distro liveCD ISO you fancy (must have Gparted included!) and make a bootable USB with Universal USB Installer (http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=1834) or YUMI (http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=2368).

There is also an official GParted live CD: http://gparted.org/livecd.php

[bzl333]

thanks for those.

i have PartedMagic on a separate partition to boot from but would be convenient to access this thru Windows from time to time.

looks like Partition Wizard is somewhat portable after uniextracting

[webfork]

I posted something to the entry about this but I wanted to share something I learned about this program with VMDK files (used by VMware) that I suspect applies to other disk image formats:

Step 1: From the menu, select Drives - Mount Images

Step 2: Click containers and choose VMDK as below



Step 3: Select the FOLDER and not the individual files:



From here you'll see the raw data inside the virtual disk volume. This was a huge help to recover from a corrupt Win7 install and very glad the Diskinternals folks are giving this away for free.

[Midas]

I gather you run Windows in a virtual machine on a Mac. It would be interesting to learn more about your setup.

[webfork]

I gather you run Windows in a virtual machine on a Mac. It would be interesting to learn more about your setup.

I do ... I went into a little detail in a post a few years back. It's mostly the same, save for that I'm running Win7x86.

Unless the eye roll icon was to indicate sarcasm, in which case ignore all that.

[Midas]

Thanks for the pointer. I had completely forgotten I had even been there. <- this one is literal, so to speak.

So sorry for coming through ambiguous with the emoticons -- the eye-roll was chosen because of its mildly curious hither and thither gaze and the ever so slight apologetic smirk...

[webfork]

Thanks for the pointer. I had completely forgotten I had even been there.

Yeah, it might be due for an update.

... ambiguous with the emoticons

No problem - as you're by and large quite positive, I didn't think it was