How come my Ubuntu installation drive is missing from windows 7?

Question

I formatted one of my hard drives to install Ubuntu on, installed ubuntu, and when I boot into windows the drive doesn't show any more... how do I get it to show? I can see it in device manager but not in the explorer.
I'm new to Linux and I want to cross over fully soon, help will be appreciated very much.
THANKS

Answer 1

A Windows (NTFS) partition will not natively read a Linux (ext3/ext4) partition however there are ways around this



Three Ways To Access Linux Partitions (ext2/ext3) From Windows On Dual-Boot Systems

http://www.howtoforge.com/access-linux-partitions-from-windows



I have not tried this with ext4 but I should imagine it would work



NOTE Linux ext3/ext4 partitions offer full read/write support for NTFS





LUg.

Answer 2

The short answer is that Windows--no version of Windows--can see a Linux drive.



The longer answer is that Windows can only see FAT and NTFS drives. Linux typically uses ext3, and more recently, ext4 file systems.



If you want to share files between the two, then your best two options are:



1. Create a third drive formatted as FAT32. It's the only file system that both Windows and Linux can read and write to.



or



2. Install Drop Box on both Windows and Linux. Your Drop Box folder will be synchronized between both over the Internet.

Answer 3

Your problem is that you have Windows installed :-P



You need a 3rd party app to view the Ubuntu ext3 / ext4 file system. Microsoft does not care or care to recognize non-Windows file systems.



See this:

http://www.fs-driver.org/



Honestly though, why does Windows need to see the Linux side of things ? I have a dual boot system and I never need Windows to see my Fedora partition. If you want to share data, use a USB device formatted NTFS or FAT32.



Hope this helps.



PS> Good luck with Linux, with time you will see how great it is.