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Mount Linux Partitions Ext4, Ext3, Ext2 in Windows 8, 10, 11

If you're a tech enthusiast, you may have come across the challenge of accessing Linux partitions in Windows 10. This can be a common issue for those who use dual boot devices or those who tinker with Raspberry Pi memory cards. Unfortunately, Windows only allows working with partitions in Fat32, NTFS or exFAT format, which can make it difficult to access other file systems such as Ext2, Ext3, Ext4 or even ReiserFS.

The issue is not just limited to these file systems not appearing on your computer, but even in the disk manager, they may exist, but you won't be able to work with their content or recognize them. This can be particularly frustrating when trying to access a partition on a Raspberry MicroSD card, where only the boot partition created to install the system appears.

But don't worry! In this tutorial, we'll show you how to mount a Linux partition EXT4, EXT3, EXT2 to Windows 10, 8, 7. With our step-by-step guide, you'll be able to access and work with your Linux partitions in no time. So, whether you're a seasoned tech expert or just starting out, follow along and learn how to read Linux partitions in Windows 10.

Some of the reasons for mounting Linux drives in Windows are:

Create dual-boot systems (Windows and Linux)
Share files
Make changes to the units and more

For this, we will use the tool Ex2Fsd.

Ext2explore

If you're someone who uses a PC with both Linux and Windows operating systems, you may have encountered the issue of accessing your Linux partition from within Windows. This can be a frustrating problem to deal with, as Windows is only capable of recognizing partitions in Fat32, NTFS, or exFAT formats, which can make it difficult to access other file systems like Ext2, Ext3, Ext4, or ReiserFS.

This issue not only prevents you from accessing your Linux files but also makes it impossible to work with their content or even recognize them in the disk manager. This can be particularly problematic when attempting to access a partition on a Raspberry MicroSD card, where only the boot partition created to install the system appears.

However, there is a solution! In this tutorial, we'll guide you through the process of mounting a Linux partition (EXT4, EXT3, EXT2) to Windows 10, 8, or 7. With our step-by-step instructions, you'll be able to access and work with your Linux partitions in no time. Whether you're an experienced tech enthusiast or just starting out, follow along and learn how to read Linux partitions in Windows 10.

One option for accessing Linux partitions from Windows is to use Ext2explorer. This Windows application allows you to access Linux partitions in the Ext2, Ext3, and Ext4 formats. To use this program, simply download it from the provided link and run it as an administrator (no installation is necessary). Once running, you'll be able to access your Linux partitions without issue and copy files or folders to another partition. Unfortunately, this app does not allow for writing to Linux partitions, but it's still an excellent option for accessing your Linux files.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/ext2read/

Note: You need to run this program with administrator rights and only reads your Linux files if you want to edit and modify data, check the next app.

Ex2Fsd

Ex2Fsd is a free tool which is an ext2 / ext3 and ext4 open source file system driver for Windows systems in all its editions.

Ex2Fsd can be downloaded at the following link: EX2FSD

https://sourceforge.net/projects/ext2fsd/

Step 1: Install Ex2Fsd

Once the application is downloaded, run it:

We follow the steps of the assistant and it is essential that during the installation process we activate the boxes:

Enable write support for Ext2 partitions
Enable force writing support on Ext3 partitions
Make Ext2fsd automatically started when system boots (If we want it to be executed at the start of the system)

Press Next and the process of installing the tool in Windows 10 will start. When executing the application we will see the following window where the unit will be observed with the file system ext2, ext3 or ext4 as the case may be:

Step 2: Mount Linux Drive in Windows

Prior to beginning the process of accessing your Linux partition from Windows, it's crucial to note that the unit containing the Linux file system is not assigned any letters, as seen in the previous image. To proceed with accessing the Linux partition, there are two options available.

The first option is to access the administrator of mount points by clicking on the Tools menu and selecting the Mountpoint Management option. The second option involves using the F10 key. By following these steps, you'll be able to successfully access and work with your Linux files from your Windows operating system..

For this, it will be necessary to pick the unit to mount. The following window will be displayed. There we click on the Add button to add the selected unit:

As we see in the upper part we can assign the desired letter, and in the lower part we can create the mount point using DefineDosDevice, but the changes will be eliminated when restarting the computer or create a permanent mount point using Session Manager.