ok, got ubuntu and win 7 dual boot.

[Ulfwald]

What software can I use to access my windows install from linux and linux install from Win7. I know there used to be something out there that let you run one in a wirtual desktop inside another.

 

[lxskllr]

I don't think you can, barring use of a virtual machine. Linux can read data off the Windows partition, but if you didn't use a FAT partition, Windows can't read the Linux partition.

 

[boardsportsrule]

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

the url says it all!

 

[Nothinman]

There are ext3 drivers for Windows, I can't remember the name of the project off the top of my head though. And NTFS read should work fine out of the box in Linux, if you want write support you'll need ntfs-3g.

 

[Platypus]

There are ext3 drivers for Windows, I can't remember the name of the project off the top of my head though. And NTFS read should work fine out of the box in Linux, if you want write support you'll need ntfs-3g.

Yep.

For Windows you can get Explore2fs (might not do 7?) or Ext2 IFS from here: http://www.fs-driver.org/index.html

As nothinman said, most modern Linux distros will read NTFS out of the box and some even have the write support compiled in but if not reference that software he mentioned: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS-3G

 

[Ulfwald]

again, I thank everyone for their input. Just tired of paying lots of money to M$ and it crapping out all the time.

 

[Platypus]

again, I thank everyone for their input. Just tired of paying lots of money to M$ and it crapping out all the time.

Ulfwald, I've had a lot of success just running a full Linux workstation and using a VM software like vbox to run a virtual Windows instance. It handles the sharing transparently and it allows you to just devote the HD to Linux and negates the need for dual booting. The few times I ever really need to use Windows, the VM comes in handy, but I can always just close it. I'm not sure what your needs are though.. so this solution isn't going to work very well if you use Windows for gaming for example.

 

[Nitemare]

Ulfwald, I've had a lot of success just running a full Linux workstation and using a VM software like vbox to run a virtual Windows instance. It handles the sharing transparently and it allows you to just devote the HD to Linux and negates the need for dual booting. The few times I ever really need to use Windows, the VM comes in handy, but I can always just close it. I'm not sure what your needs are though.. so this solution isn't going to work very well if you use Windows for gaming for example.

What he said. Also VMWare has a free albeit limited version out as well ESXi
http://www.vmware.com/products/esxi/

 

[xSauronx]

What he said. Also VMWare has a free albeit limited version out as well ESXi
http://www.vmware.com/products/esxi/

esxi is a bare metal hypervisor. it might be picky-ish about hardware, it definitely isnt made to run a VM inside of another OS.

vmware workstation, vmware server (Free), and virtual box are good considerations for running windows inside of a linux host os.