Questions tagged [filesystems]
A file system is the specification of how files in a computer should be stored, named and organized. This tag should be used for generic file system questions. For specific file system questions (FAT, NTFS, ext4, ...) use the appropriate tag instead.
360
questions
13
votes
2
answers
707
views
Is it possible to mount a volume to a custom drive prefix, e.g. "myDrive:\"?
Am I just a dreamer, or does something like this exist?
- 23.6k
12
votes
5
answers
10k
views
Is ext4 more expensive than ntfs?
I have just converted an NTFS partition to ext4, however the total space seems reduced from 421G to 415G. Where did the 6G go? And, the reserved space is grown to 199M in ext4, much larger compared to ...
- 18.3k
12
votes
5
answers
1k
views
What is the difference between ./ and ../?
when we specify the file path some times we specify like ./filename and some time ../filename what is difference between these two?
nectar
11
votes
3
answers
19k
views
Ext2 or Ext4 for bootable USB Flash-drive with Linux?
I want to install Ubuntu to a USB Flash drive (so I have my Desktop everywhere and can customize it as I want).
I'm still choosing what's the best filesystem for the USB; Ext2 with no journaling or ...
- 111
9
votes
4
answers
1k
views
why ./ is needed to run a runnable file?
I'm using ubuntu and I notice many of my runnable scripts won't run unless I precede theme by ./.
For example, if I have a perl script: /home/me/script.pl and I'm currently in /home/me, typing script....
- 2,534
9
votes
2
answers
37k
views
Where are files in the Recycle Bin stored, in respect of partitions?
I understand that the Recycle Bin is shared amongst local drives (partitions). When a file is "deleted" and sent to the Recycle Bin, does the file itself stay on the partition it was in prior to ...
- 593
7
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Where are programs usually installed for a particular user?
On Windows, installing programs like Python without elevated privileges will default its install directory to "%LocalAppData%\Programs." Is this directory the "Program Files" equivalent, but only for ...
- 361
7
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Best filesystem for use with multiple OS? [duplicate]
what's the best file system to use with windows, osx, and linux that is not fat32.
I need a file system that can share large video files with good performance
alexxer
6
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Accidentally reformatted a EXT4 drive to NTFS; lost all data. What are my options?
I'm going to sound like a complete idiot here, but I was installing Windows 7 on a new partition, accidentally selected my Linux partition, and hit install. The installer (which had no "Are you sure ...
- 261
6
votes
1
answer
408
views
Will I suffer any major drawback(s) if I have the drive formatted as FAT-32
Is there any disadvantage(s) of using a 500GB external hard drive formatted as FAT-32 or is it simply a choice?
I am asking this because I am an owner of a PS3 and it only recognizes FAT-32 formatted ...
- 641
6
votes
2
answers
61k
views
How do I read the Ext4 partition of my SD card on Windows? [duplicate]
I have a 32 GB SD card with one FAT32 partition and one Ext4 partition. If I mount the SD card to the computer I can read the FAT32 partition in Windows just fine. But how do I read the Ext4 partition?...
- 20.8k
6
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Why does the root directory '/' have a reference to its "parent"?
I'm currently developing a fake filesystem for a browsergame.
I recently implemented ".." and "." folders so every folder has a reference to its parent.
Then I checked in my terminal if "/" also has ...
- 113
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Looking for a file-system overlay using LD_PRELOAD
I'm looking for a shared library that is to be loaded using LD_PRELOAD that would modify the view of the filesystem to the client program.
Ideally, I'd like to choose the filesystem root (or use / as ...
- 2,975
5
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Indexing across a mount point in windows
I have a new windows 7 computer. The first thing I did was in stall a 2nd hard drive and mount it at C:/Users/me this seems to work just fine, except one issue.
Search does not find and file there, ...
- 1,883
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why does NTFS disallow the use of trailing periods in directory names? [closed]
On Linux, I can have a folder named temp..
If I try to do a mkdir temp. on a Windows machine, the trailing period is truncated.
If I try to sync a directory from Linux to Windows that has a trailing ...
- 10.1k
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is there a successor to NTFS? [closed]
What I am asking is if there is any file system that is known to be a possible successor of NTFS?
I am asking because I just bought a new external, and realized that the path to a file, including the ...
- 722
4
votes
1
answer
4k
views
How can the recycle bin hold multiple files with the same name? [duplicate]
Under Windows if I create a file and delete it, than recreate the exact copy of the file in the same place and delete it too, than I will have 2 identical files in the recycle bin with the same name. ...
- 5,204
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
My folder turned into a 'USB***' file
A folder (not the disk itself) containing misc. things in my flash drive turned into a single USBC[]ÇNY file when I was running the Sublime Text app. It has no modified-date, nothing, looks like ...
user491015
4
votes
3
answers
1k
views
External hard drive how to format it?
I just bought a hard drive of 500GB that I want to use on Mac OS X and GNU/Linux but be able to use some file on Windows.
Basically I have to deal with FAT32 (That doesn't support file over 4GB), ...
- 1,667
3
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Driver for writing to UDF partitions from Windows XP?
I'm considering using an UDF partition to share data between Windows XP, 7, and Linux. It's more efficient than FAT32, and avoids the 4GB max file size limit. I've found it will also work with Mac OS ...
- 5,488
3
votes
4
answers
3k
views
How to shred already removed file on modern filesystem? (randomize free space, journal, tails, ... securely)
Consider the following:
mount | grep home
... type reiserfs ...
rm -Rf /home/user/over_9000_little_and_big_super_secret_files/
# oops, I should have shredded it instead.
How can I properly and ...
- 17.2k
3
votes
2
answers
21k
views
Is exFAT now the best choice for an external hard drive that will be used for Windows, Mac, and Linux? [duplicate]
I'm running a Windows, Mac, Linux tripleboot off of a single SSD, and am now, unsurprisingly, in need of additional storage space in the form of an external hard drive. I want to format my hard drive ...
- 1,755
3
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Can't Delete Old Windows Directory
I got a new SSD drive for my computer, and have installed Windows on this drive. This left an old Windows directory on my old normal drive. I am now attempting to delete this old Windows directory, ...
- 143
2
votes
5
answers
32k
views
How do I make my external USB HDD be treated as a removable drive
I want to connect my external 2TB USB HDD that has 4 partitions, to be treated as a set of removable drives on Windows.
This is because I do not want Windows to create "System Volume Information" ...
- 630
2
votes
3
answers
10k
views
Read Only flag. A property of the folder, too? (not just file objects?)
I select the following option to set the "Read Only" flag at the folder level and to cascade this flag setting to all of the descendant objects...
When I check the files after initiating this command,...
- 2,214
2
votes
1
answer
10k
views
MacOS switched root Mongodb data folder to system ownership and it cannot be changed back anymore
The title gives it away, I suppose.
Here's the deal:
MacOS switched my /data/db folder, which is used by MongoDB, which I need to get a ton of work done, to read-only file system.
Basically happened ...
- 81
2
votes
2
answers
289
views
How do I delete files that are locked when no other app can delete them?
So I found out that I had a Trojan on my external hard drive. My anti-virus app killed it, but it has created a bunch of random files on my computer which cannot be deleted. These are image files. ...
- 548
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can a SAN allow concurrent write access to the same file from several servers?
I am sorry, but know virtually nothing about SAN.
If we have two or more (heterogeneous Linux) servers connected to a SAN: is it possible to allocate the same storage area (i.e. file system) to all ...
- 123
1
vote
4
answers
20k
views
Windows: How turn off hidden attribute for all files and directories on a drive?
My Windows 7 was recently infected by the system-fix.com virus and it hid all my files and directories. I believe I've removed the virus but I still can't find many files and programs.
Is there a ...
- 359
1
vote
2
answers
9k
views
Missing files when Windows 7 returns from hibernate w/ dual boot
I have a dual-boot setup with Ubuntu (lucid) and Windows 7. I have the Windows file system shared on Ubuntu through Samba.
Occasionally, I am working on Windows and my machine will go into hibernate (...
- 113
1
vote
0
answers
172
views
How to find true source of a mount?
I want to understand how can I figure out the actual source of a mount from /proc/self/mountinfo file?
Here is an example of a mountinfo file:
19 60 0:5 / /dev rw,nosuid shared:2 - devtmpfs devtmpfs ...
- 33
1
vote
1
answer
4k
views
Drive removed while accessing, filesystem is corrupt, can it be fixed?
The drive slipped off my desk and dropped out of a USB-HDD 2.5" SATA caddy while I was copying some files, and now it won't recognize properly in Windows. It does show up in Testdisk but before trying ...
- 525
1
vote
2
answers
443
views
I tried installing Ubuntu 10.04 and I got this message - any ideas on what to do?
No root file system defined. Please correct this from the partition menu.
This message shows up when I first boot into Ubuntu after the installation.
I installed it by mounting the ISO with Daemon ...
- 143
1
vote
1
answer
7k
views
File system format for both windows and linux use (besides fat32)
I'm looking for a file system to format my large external drive with that can read/write in linux and read/write in windows. I know Fat32 is usually the best suggestion, but a large percent of my ...
- 7,266
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Partitions overlapping linux
I have problem with my partitions which are overlapping each other (fdisk -l)
/dev/sda1 * 2048 206847 204800 100M 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2 8155136 220203007 ...
- 113
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
How to stop Windows creating unknown alphanumeric folders in my external drive?
I posted similar question and accepted an answer as Visual Studio installation can left behind these files as documented but there is more to it.
I haven't installed any Microsoft product but I keep ...
- 1,743
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Best way to access ext partion in windows?
What is the most stable and easiest way to get readable access of linux partitions in windows?
All software and drivers I´ve found seem to have been dead/inactive for at least 4 years.
Native ...
- 282
0
votes
2
answers
4k
views
I can't change any system files from CMD
In my previous question:
I forgot the Windows 7 password on my own computer, I used the trick
described in Resetting Your Forgotten Windows Password
(http://www.howtogeek.com/96630/how-to-reset-...
- 33
0
votes
1
answer
975
views
Is it safe to convert NTFS to ext2 with anyconvertfs?
I want to convert an NTFS filesystem (never used with Windows, and no use of any special features - just a bunch of files. Not even any hard links / symlinks / etc.
I know it's possible to make the ...
- 9,503
0
votes
3
answers
291
views
On Windows, what could be creating these strangely named, locked versions of .doc files?
I have a user who has .doc files called Foo.doc and Bar.doc. Later they find files named ~$01-1-Foo.doc and ~$05-1-Bar.doc in the same directory. The new files are locked and disrupting the operation ...
- 257
0
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Testdisk VersuS corrupted removable sdcard and phone storage
I've tried most of things for my very specific situation in Testdisk but they didn't help except a few things I havent tried because I dont know if and how do them.
What happened:
I had removable ...
- 53
0
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Removing duplicate files, keeping only the newest file
I'm trying to clean up a photo dump folder, in which several files are duplicated but with different filenames or lost in subfolders.
I've looked at tools like rmlint, duff and fdupes, but I can't ...
0
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How to change long file names (created in linux) in windows?
I have copied some data from my Linux machine to my external hard disk. When I want to read some files on my Windows machine, I can't open it. I get the below error
The specified path does not exist
...
- 113
0
votes
1
answer
10k
views
How can I format a partition as HFS on a PC?
For various unimportant reasons, I want to format a partition using MacOS's native HFS filesystem.
Is there any software that will let me do this on a PC, without connecting the hard drive directly ...
- 129
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Unable to create folder/file on root in spite of free space
Since some time I am unable to create file/folder on root.
I always log in as root and was able to work properly.
My experience is as follows:
# pwd
/root
# mkdir xcxcx
mkdir: cannot create directory ...
- 111
214
votes
3
answers
58k
views
Why do file URLs start with 3 slashes?
HTTP starts with two slashes. E.g. http://example.com.
Same goes for FTP. E.g. ftp://example.com.
However, file "URLs" start with three slashes. E.g. Reading a pdf file using chrome, the URL would ...
- 27.3k
204
votes
9
answers
22k
views
How far will you get with an 'rm -rf /' command?
I've often wondered how far the system will actually get if you run rm -rf /. I doubt the OS would be able to erase itself (?)
Bonus Question: After the command has been executed, will rm have ...
- 16.7k
109
votes
14
answers
127k
views
faster way to mount a remote file system than sshfs?
I have been using sshfs to work remotely, but it is really slow and annoying, particularly when I use eclipse on it.
Is there any faster way to mount the remote file system locally? My no.1 priority ...
- 1,981
75
votes
10
answers
156k
views
How to find the largest directories or largest files? [duplicate]
Under Linux, I'm looking for a command to list the largest file and/or the largest directories under a directory.
- 853
64
votes
3
answers
137k
views
How to split big files on MAC?
I have a 5 GB file on my MAC and can not copy it on flash memory or external hard formatted with FAT. How I can split it to some smaller files
- 741