USB accessed by both Windows and Zorin 18 OS's; currently Fuse Filesystem; should it be Linux Virtual Machine?

Hardware Support
1
  • I have a Dual Boot system (Zorin 18.1 / Windows 11) with a 1Tb USB plugged in .
  • The USB is accessed by both Zorin 18 and Windows OS (not simultaneously).
  • Recently I've caught up with a bunch of Zorin OS updates - I have Zorin 18.1 Pro.
  • On my other OS it's windows 11 of some version.

All works well and the USB HDD is accessed and read/writeable by both OS's.
However, the last couple of days I've noticed numerous files and folders that definitely did exist now don't exist on Zorin accessing the USB, when they've been opened by Windows.

There is at least one file (a text file .txt) that Zorin OS now claims doesn't exist and the Windows OS saying it can see it (eg it's in "recent") but it can't be accessed/opened.

UPDATE:

I was just now prompted by the Windows 11 OS to repair the filesystem on the USB and that has fixed most of the files accessibility / visibility.

The file system on the USB is FUSE. Which according to search engine summary ai states: "Fuse ext4 file systems can experience data corruption, especially when mounted with certain kernel modules. It is recommended to use a Linux virtual machine for mounting ext4 file systems to avoid such issues."

So, with respect to Zorin 18.1 interaction with the USB , should I care to use some sort of Linux Virtual Machine to mount the USB for reliability?

All useful suggestions welcome.

2

Because of the Thread Title, I have to ask to be more specific: Does Windows run installed and Zorin is in a VM on Windows or is Zorin installed and Windows runs in a VM on Zorin?

2 Likes
3

Thanks, I have rewritten my question it was a bit too vague before. No current virtual machines exist here as far as I'm aware.

1 Like
4

Yes I also couldn't understand if it's dual boot or virtual machine (or both)

If it's Linux has a virtual machine, then you can use:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install qemu-kvm libvirt-clients libvirt-daemon-system virt-manager ovmf swtpm swtpm-tools virtiofsd bridge-utils
sudo usermod -aG libvirt $USER

and install Winfsp as he does: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T68CTiudCVI&t=978s

1 Like
5

It is a Dual Boot machine running Win 11 and Zorin 18.1 Pro .

1 Like
6

When You want use the external Drive for Windows and Zorin, NTFS would be a Compromise to have. That can be used on both Systems. Would it be only for Zorin, I would say using ext4.

Some further Questions:

  • Are Secure Boot and Fast Boot in BIOS disabled?
  • Is Fast Start-Up in Windows disabled?
  • Was one of the mentioned Updates on zorin a Kernel Update to Version 7.0? If yes, try it with switching back to the older 6.17 Kernel because the new one made/make some Issues. To go back to the 6.17 Kernel, select on the GRUB Menu ''Advanced Options'' and choose there the Option with the 6.17 Kernel (without Recovery Mode) and check if it works right again.
2 Likes
7

Do you use the file system on the mentioned USB Stick active in the running OS or only for storage?
If you use it active it is better to transfer the USB stick's file system to a SSD as USB goes very fast defective with too many I/Os. A SSD can manage that better and longer over the time.

8

@JustZorin he states in an earlier post it is an HDD not a flash/thumb drive.

I have started working differently recently after I learned about articles on dual-boot systems.

One of the advantages of dual-booting with the advent of ntfs-3g is that you could read and write to/from Windows.
However, the most recent advice is that you should never read or write to the partition that holds Windows because of its active file system can corrupt files.

On most external hard drives, they come pre-formatted with NTFS. On my last 4 Tb purchase I split it down the middle, 2 Tb NTFS, 2 Tb Ext4.

On a recent hardware update I performed on youngest's machine I upgraded Windows 11 Drive to SSD and made the old HDD for data, moving each of the users folders away from the Windows drive to the HDD.

So for sharing purposes I would advise you do one of two things. Shrink your Windows drive in order to create a separate Data Partition, but don't move your Windows user files to it, just call it Data and create new folders (not Win 11 user folders linked to Windows) and format it to NTFS.

Your other option now would be to retrieve as much data as possible to another storage location and then depending on what proportion of storage use you use for storing data from each OS, partition your external drive in the appropriate split 60/40, 50/50 NTFS/Ext4 FS.

You also now need to be aware that Fuse is being dropped for a replacement ntfs compatibility layer. I have read elsewhere on other GNU/Linux pages that the new ntfs replacement for ntfs-3g has prevented access to current setups and user been advised to go back to the deprecated ntfs-3g.

I did create a video awhile back on creating a Data partition in Zorin so that dual-booters have access to the same partition.

With regards to virtualisation options I would do it the other way around, Windows as a VM in GNU/Linux which is what I did with Windows 7 and 8.1 Pro during lockdown working from home until I retired.

1 Like
9

Thank you. Yes the kernel was updated to 7.0.0-28-generic, from (from memory) 6.17 . I will try the rollback as per your guidance on GRUB. Thanks!

2 Likes
10

Yes running with Kernel 6.17 appears to be the workaround. Thank you!

3 Likes
11

So it was a Linux 7.0 bug :frowning: