I think it may depend on what format the backup files are. If they are just copies of files and folders then yes, Linux will be able to read the files. If the backups are ".img" files made using the Windows backup utility then perhaps not. I'm not sure about that one. It has been a while since I have tried to read a Windows .img backup file and so I cannot remember exactly the result. I have some old Windows backups on an external hard drive and will experiment and report back here what I learn.I would like to switch from Windoz 7 to Linux but I have backups that I saved from Windoz. Will I be able to read them in Linux?
Ah yes.... Hard Drives. An example and reminder that, sometimes, you don't need to spend a lot of money just to get enough space for your Files.G'day Onjay, Welcome to linux.org
i have linux installed on a ssd. I do not store any data/pics/music there at all
I then have two additional hard drives.......one stores backups made by the linux system.....and the other stores data/pics/music etc etc...all sorts of stuff that I do not wish to lose.
The thing is.....I connected the old windows hard drive, accessed it via 'computer' in Linux,,,,and then simply dragged and dropped from one hard drive to the other (the original windows hard drive was rather small...150 GB.....the new hard drive storing data/pics/music etc is 500 GB)
So....think your way around it.......you can connect external hard drives via usb........Linux WILL recognise them....and you can move the info on that drive to wherever you wish.
You can buy a cradle to hold a hard drive which then connects to any pc via usb.......not expensive.
I am just floating ideas here.......
New hard drives are not expensive anymore....
Welcome to the Forums, Onjay! As the others have said, NTFS is readable entirely by Linux, and I should add, the BSDs as well, through a Driver called ntfs-3g. If you have an NTFS Partition mounted, it will show up in /etc/fstab with the ntfs-3g Program. BTW, since you're new to Linux, fstab is simply a File that contains instructions for the OS to mount Filesystems and Partitions a certain way, such as Read-only, Read-and-Write, etc.. It's accessible by any Text Editor. Just be cautious while modifying it, and ask us any questions if you are ever unsure about how to do so.I would like to switch from Windoz 7 to Linux but I have backups that I saved from Windoz. Will I be able to read them in Linux?
Interesting. I thought .xml was viewable by just about any browser. But being viewable isn't the same as "useful" data. Were the backups made with something like 'DriveImage XML'? I've used that program before - seems to work good. They also offer a Knoppix based Live CD for a recovery environment.Thanks All. I see that the Windoz backup files are in xml format and I cannot read them: "is not readable. It may have been removed, moved, or file permissions may be preventing access. " A great and wonderful feature of the MIckysoft Backup program. So apparently I will have to backup and save the files from my Win 7 system in their original format.
I made backups on my Win 7 system and would only like to be able to read them from Linux but it seems unlikely or very difficult to do so. So I will have to re-record the Win 7 files in their original format, whatever that was.
Q. I want to browse an image. Why is the screen empty?
A. The image was created in RAW format. In RAW format, DriveImage does not interpret the data. Thus it has no knowledge about individual files.
My friend calls them Mickeysoft too. :3Thanks All. I see that the Windoz backup files are in xml format and I cannot read them: "is not readable. It may have been removed, moved, or file permissions may be preventing access. " A great and wonderful feature of the MIckysoft Backup program. So apparently I will have to backup and save the files from my Win 7 system in their original format.
I made backups on my Win 7 system and would only like to be able to read them from Linux but it seems unlikely or very difficult to do so. So I will have to re-record the Win 7 files in their original format, whatever that was.