[hgibbs8129]

accidently changed a ntsf file system into a linux file system. can i change it back?
im using ubuntu 6.10 but it doent recogistion the partion? have i deleted all my data on the hard disk or is there a way to get or recover all my data?
i was trying to partion a small partion to operate back track but it completely changed all the file systems. i can load the start of windows. most of the system32 files. cant hot plug it or boot it from another hard disk. it does recognis it.
any susgestions?

[saikee]

It depends on how you changed it in the first place.

As a rule if the partition size has not been altered the filing system would not be changed. You only alter the partition Type or its ID. This alteration is reversible because the partition type is just one byte information in the partition table. The interior data is always untouched.

Partition type for ntfs is 7, for Linux it is 83, Fat32 can be b or c. You can change it freely by running "sudo cfdisk /dev/hda" if it the hard disk is the device hda, etc.

In cfdisk just highlight the partition, press "type" and select the new type number. A complete list is displayed to assist your selection. The change to the hard disk will only take place if you select "write" and type "yes" before exiting cfdisk.

If you have altered the partition size, thereby their boundaries the process is still reversible if you have not formatted or written information on them. All you need to do is to rebuild the original partition table. If you did format or write the partitions then you can kiss the information good bye as very little can be salvaged.

Your post suggests the filing system changed. I believe this is incorrect because the same file can be transferred back into a ntfs partition and automatically will have the original format. I believe the files have not been changed at all, only the partition ID or Type number.

Linux supports over 100 different partition types.

[hgibbs8129]

you were right. a small partion about 8 gigs was formated to a linux file system not the hole hard drive but it was stopping windows reading it? dont know why. i used partion magic to delete the linux partion and cloned the hard disk. saving all my data.
thanks for the advice. learning every day.

can i ask u a question? which linux is the best? im using Ubuntu 6.10(full installed) and back track(the new 1 from a live cd). are there better linux? or should i stick to ubuntu?
thanks again.

[saikee]

Different Linux offer slightly different functionalities but the main features reamin unchanged.

Ubuntu is pretty up to date but you can't log in as root to the GUI, unless you hack it.

Backtrack belongs to the Slax family and it permits you working as the root user in the GUI thus more versatile. The Slax family is very quick too as being small they keep everything in the ram.

It is a good practice not to log in as root to makes Linux safe against attack. Thus following Ubuntu's way is the correct way but if you need to do something quick and easy you can switch to Backtrack.

[hgibbs8129]

thanks saikee.