Thursday, 20 June 2019

linux - How do I read the Ext4 partition of my SD card on Windows?



I have a 32 GB SD card with one FAT32 partition and one Ext4 partition. If I mount the SD card to the computer I can read the FAT32 partition in Windows just fine. But how do I read the Ext4 partition?


I have installed Ext2Fsd which is said (link 1, link 2) to support Ext4 partitions. But it is said to only partially support Ext4 partitions and it is best at reading them, writing to them is not recommended as data corruption may occur. I don't need writing anyway, but I can't even read it.


I don't see the Ext4 partition of my SD card when I start the Ext2 Volume Manager. Why is it not showing up?


Update


Okay, here's a short update.



  1. Ext2Fsd is NOT working (as you can see by my own answer down below).

  2. Ext2Read is NOT working (which is the most up-voted solution in the above mentioned link).


Ext2Fsd is not assigning drive letters to mount the FS on Windows (Explorer).


After choosing a drive letter, this is what I get in return:


image


Nothing! I just get an empty dialog box.


And as for Ext2Read, it doesn't seem to understand removable devices.


This is what I get when I launch the EXE as admin (required):


image2


If it's a real HDD it can see it and I can browse it. In the image below my Ubuntu disk is shown with two Ext3 (I think it is) partitions and one Swap partition.


But if it's a removable device like a SD card with Ext partition mounted to a SD card reader, it does NOT show up at all (evidently).


So no support for removable devices then in Ext2Read? Right? And I don't know what's going on with Ext2Fsd, that thing can't assign a drive letter to a partition on a removable device. Is this how it is by design? It was also unable to mount my internal HDD with Ubuntu.


The only thing that really worked was the Linux Reader by Diskinternals, as suggested by Chris down below. Thank you Chris!


This is how removable drives show up in Linux Reader:


linux reader


It's very nice. It even has a Hex viewer for those who want to geek out at it. Not only does it show Linux partitions but Windows partitions as well.


Here's some info on my partition/SD card/card reader.


low low


It's very easy to use and has plenty of features.


Update


Okay, I just found out that Ext2Read DOES work! I was not reading properly. You can see in the screenshot that those are two different devices.


/dev/sda1
/dev/sda2
/dev/sdf2

Device sdf2 is my Ext4 partition on SD card. So I give some credit to Ext2Read! It actually works! But Ext2Fsd does NOT.


Here's another one I found to be working: Ext4Explorer.


I get the same results with Ext4Explorer. I can see the two partitions on one device (internal HDD) and the one partition on the SD card. Here's a screenshot.


ext4explorer


But unlike both Ext4Explorer and Ext2Read, the Linux Reader actually shows you how many files you have and some basic information about a file when you open up a folder. The former two do not. If you want to know how many files there are when using either one of the two you have to count the files.... ridiculous!


So I say go with Linux Explorer!



Answer



They have what you need:


http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/


it's free and there are plugins as well for TotalCommander!


TotalCommander plugin: http://www.diskinternals.com/reader-for-tc/


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