running on Windows partition

[kyrk46]

Dear Guru

Knoppix rocks! But many of my friends find CDs rather sluggish, want to change to linux, but don't want to risk repartitioning (especially if they have winmodems that don't work under Linux). I think what would be even more extraordinary is if Knoppix could run on any Windows partition on the actual hard disk without any need for repartitioning (which remains a massive deterrent for people who want to make a permanent shift to Linux). Is that sort of thing possible?

K.Y.R.K.

[eadz]

if it's a FAT 32 partition ( NOT NTFS ) the answer is yes, check out
http://www.knoppix.net/docs/index.php/HdBasedHowTo

[A. Jorge Garcia]

Take a look at the discussions I've been having regarding your idea:

http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2021

Good Luck,

[kyrk46]

Thanks A. Jorge Garcia,
Yes that might work - I'll definitely try it out sometime.
I am thinking more along the lines of an NTFS (e.g. Windows XP) system though... does that complicate procedures hugely? (I am an amateur when it comes to linux)
Even commercial-ish things like WinLinux 2003 don't even think of supporting NTFS without repartitioning - it would be great if Knoppix did.
And there remains the problem of not being to write freely to hard disk when booting the system on hard disk.

kyrk46

[A. Jorge Garcia]

Sorry, KNOPPIX just does not play well with NTFS - due to cloop?. In fact, there's a FAQ somewhere on this site about the file systems KNOPPIX works with and there's a huge warning not to wirte to NTFS from Linux. You can read from it, but if you write to it you can cause irreparable damage!

Be Careful,

[VeeDubb]

There are some distros that will let you write to NTFS by default, but the devs should be shot. As said before, writing to NTFS is VERY dangerous to the NTFS partition. I've done it before without problems, but I've also done it and needed to reformat the partition.

THe other thing to keep in mind, is the XP DOES NOT require NTFS. It is only needed for dealing with VERY large single partitions, witch are a bad idea anyway. I forget what the threashold is, but I think it's like 40GB or something. Plus, even in windows, you can just make multiple partitions and direct where you install things.

If your partitions aren't large enough to require NTFS, whitch they almost never should be, the only advantage to NTFS is a longer file name with some extra info that is only useful to uber geek power users.

[Stephen]

Sorry, Linux in general, not just KNOPPIX, does not play well with NTFS.

It's not Linux that's the problem it's Microsoft's file system lockout for other OS's.

[garyng]

KNOPPIX cannot be living on an NTFS partition, even you follow the Hdbased How to. The problem seems to be that cloop.o does not like NTFS(for whatever reason), even read only. I tried to do it and my keyboard LED blinks right after I load the cloop.o onto the file KNOPPIX sitting on NTFS(and hang). So forget it until it is fixed, either cloop or the NTFS module code.

[qa1433]

You said you tried WinLinux 2003. Well if you want to install a really nice, fast Linux on your XP partition then try Topologilinux. It is really fast! Easy to install also.
Topologilinux has released version 3.0.0 which has many new features. You can still run it under any version of Windows and both NTFS and FAT filesystems are supported. This version now also includes the Alsa sound drivers which makes almost all soundcard work. This distribution is based on Slackware 9.0 and comes with Gnome 2.2 Kde 3.1 and a few other windows Mgrs. It also has many other appz. You will have to download OO seperatly. But OO istalls are very easy. Licq and Wine are still included (a linux ICQ client and a program called Wine to run your Windows appz.
Topologilinux is very easy to install just insert the cd when you are in windows and the installation starts automatically. Then you boot with the cd in and write "install" and press enter and install your system. Then your system is installed just insert this cd and press enter when you want to run
Topologilinux !
Go to the Download area and download or you can order the cd with Topologilinux 3.0.0!

http://topologi-linux.sourceforge.net/

Download it and burn the ISO. You will enjoy it. I have it installed on my XP system and did not have to partition the drive to install it

Have fun,
paul

[kyrk46]

Many thanks to you all for the advice - it is hugely appreciated.
The great thing about Knoppix is the huge capacity to auto-detect appliances installed in your computer and also a wide range of peripherals.
You say that Topologilinux is "easy to install" but also that it is "based on Slackware". Does that not mean therefore that Topologilinux could be a right headache as regards having to manually find and fine-tune configuration files? I have heard of Topologilinux before, and so far I haven't come across anyone who has had problems using it on NTFS, which is definitely encouraging. Having said that, it seems to be quite an unknown distribution compared to others (or am I wrong?).

If Topologilinux has Knoppix's capabilities for auto-detecting stuff, it would seriously rival Knoppix... simply because Knoppix can't run on an NTFS partition.