In this article, we will discuss the process of recovering data by changing the file system from NTFS to ext4. This can be useful if you're unable to mount a device on Ubuntu, or if you're dual-booting and want to ensure that your Linux system can read and write to a particular partition.
NTFS vs ext4
NTFS is a file system used primarily by Windows operating systems, while ext4 is a file system used primarily by Linux operating systems. While both file systems have their own strengths and weaknesses, one might want to change a file system from NTFS to ext4 in order to improve compatibility or performance.
Preparing for the File System Change
Before changing the file system, it's important to ensure that all important data has been backed up. While it's possible to recover data after changing the file system, it can be a complex and time-consuming process.
Backing Up Data
The first step in preparing for the file system change is to back up any important data. This can be done using a variety of tools, such as rsync, dd, or a graphical user interface (GUI) tool like Backup and Restore in Ubuntu.
Unmounting the File System
The next step is to unmount the file system. This can be done using the umount command followed by the device identifier (e.g., /dev/sda1).
Changing the File System
Once the data has been backed up and the file system has been unmounted, the file system change can be performed.
Creating a New ext4 File System
To create a new ext4 file system, the mkfs.ext4 command can be used followed by the device identifier. For example:
sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1
Recovering Data After the File System Change
If data was not backed up before the file system change, it may still be possible to recover it using data recovery tools.
TestDisk
TestDisk is a free, open-source data recovery tool that can be used to recover deleted partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again. It can also be used to recover data from a damaged or formatted file system.
PhotoRec
PhotoRec is a companion program to TestDisk that is specifically designed to recover multimedia files (e.g., photos, videos, audio files). It can be used to recover files from a wide variety of file systems, including NTFS and ext4.
Conclusion
Changing the file system from NTFS to ext4 can be a useful way to improve compatibility or performance on a Linux system. However, it's important to ensure that all important data has been backed up before making the change.