EXT3/EXT2 Recovery | How to Recover Linux Partition on Windows

How to Recover Deleted/Lost EXT2/EXT3 Partition on Windows

Step 1. Run the tool Partition Recovery on your PC.

Step 2. Wait for the scanning process to complete.

Step 3. Preview and restore the lost partition(s).

Step 4. Click "Recover Now" to complete the partition recovery process. Read more >>

There may be instances when you need to recover EXT3/EXT2 data on Windows 10/8/7. However, Windows is unable to read Linux partitions without the assistance of third-party software. In such cases, you will require tools like Data Recovery Wizard and partition recovery software to help you out. In this EXT3 recovery guide, we will guide you through the two main aspects:

You can repair Linux partition from Windows and restore Linux data as per your requirements.

Yes, it is possible to recover data from a Linux partition in Windows. You can use various data recovery software tools that are compatible with both Windows and Linux file systems. Some popular options include: 1. **TestDisk & PhotoRec**: These are free, open-source utilities that can be used to recover lost partitions and retrieve files. TestDisk helps in restoring the partition table, while PhotoRec focuses on file recovery. 2. **tools Data Recovery Wizard**: This is a commercial software that supports recovering data from Linux partitions (EXT2, EXT3, EXT4) in a Windows environment. 3. **Recuva**: A free data recovery tool from Piriform, Recuva can scan and recover files from Linux partitions. 4. **MiniTool Power Data Recovery**: Another commercial software that can recover data from Linux partitions in Windows. 5. **Disk Drill**: This is a user-friendly data recovery software that supports various file systems, including those used by Linux. Before using any of these tools, ensure that you have disconnected the Linux partition from any live Linux system to prevent further data overwriting. Also, remember that data recovery success depends on the extent of data loss and the condition of the partition.

Here are a couple of commonplace scenarios where Linux users tend to lose data.

• Careless deletion
• Disk formatting
• Emptied recycle bin
• Virus infection causing drive inaccessibility
• Hard drive corruption with numerous bad sectors preventing access

I believe that we've all experienced at least one data loss situation and desperately sought a data recovery solution to retrieve lost files. The reality is, with the widespread adoption of Windows 7 and the recent Windows 10, the number of users still employing the Linux operating system has significantly dwindled. Some might, however, utilize a dual-boot system, such as Windows 7 and Linux or Windows 10 and Linux.

The other fact is that there are dozens of dependable data recovery software in the market, but nearly no one supports the Linux operating system. That's why Linux users are so afraid of deleting some critical files by mistake, or what's worse, formatting the disk and erasing all data on it. Is it the end of the world for Linux users who lost files? Not yet. As long as you have a Windows computer nearby, it's possible to recover data from Linux partition in Windows with the help of tools like Data Recovery Wizard.

Part 1. How to Recover Data from Linux Partition in Windows

First, download and install the tool Data Recovery Wizard on your computer or laptop that is running Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista.

Then, safely remove the Linux hard drive from your computer and attach it to your Windows computer correctly. If you have a dual-boot system, skip this step; you don't need to remove the Linux hard drive.

Next, run the Data Recovery Wizard tool in Windows and follow the three-step guide to recovering data from a Linux EXT2/EXT3 partition.

Step 1. Select and scan the lost partition

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard, select "Lost Partition", and click "Scan" to search for all lost data. If there are numerous lost partitions, you can identify them by their partition size.

Note: Since the Windows system does not support the Linux file system, the Ext2 or Ext3 partition will be recognized as a lost partition without a drive letter in the software. If you wish to recover data from an Ext2/Ext3 partition, please follow these steps.

Step 2. Filter the scanned results

Since there will be many scanned files, you can opt to filter quickly by file category, such as Pictures, Videos, Documents, Audio, and Others. Alternatively, if you recall the file name, simply enter it in the search box located in the top-right corner.

Step 3. Preview and recover data from the lost partition

Before recovery, you can preview the file to ensure it's the data you need. Select all the required files and click "Recover" to restore them.

Caution: Saving the file(s) to the partition or drive from where you are recovering data may result in data overwriting, leading to permanent data loss!

Many PC users have attested to the effectiveness of the tool. If you're interested in file recovery, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms!

Part 2. How to Recover Deleted/Lost EXT2/EXT3 Partition in Windows

Rather than deleting data directly, some users accidentally remove a hard drive partition using Disk Management or a third-party partition manager, converting the partition into empty unallocated space. If this scenario applies to you and you need to recover an entire partition along with its data - Linux partition recovery, you should turn to another tool called Partition Recovery in this case.

Similarly, connect the Linux hard drive to your Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista computer, and follow the guide to start EXT2/EXT3 partition recovery.

Step 1. Run the Partition Recovery tool on your PC.

Select the disk or device where you lost partition(s), and click "Scan" to continue.

Step 2. Wait for the scanning process to complete. Translation: Step 2. Wait for the scanning process to finish.

让程序扫描所选磁盘并找到丢失的分区。

Step 3. Preview and restore the lost partition(s).

Double-click on the partition that is labeled as "Lost" with "Good" recoverability.

Preview the contents of the lost partition. Click "OK" and then "Proceed" to start restoring the lost partition.

Step 4. Click "Recover Now" to complete the partition recovery process.

Note: If the program warns you of a conflict, first back up the listed partition with important data to an external hard drive. Then proceed with the final step to recover your lost partition.

Further Reading - What is the EXT2 or EXT3 File System?

EXT2, or the second extended file system, is a file system utilized in the Linux kernel. Initially conceived as a replacement for the extended file system, it is known for its speed, which has led to its use as a benchmark standard. However, a significant drawback of EXT2 is that it lacks journaling functionality. Its successor, EXT3, introduces journaling and is nearly fully compatible with EXT2.

EXT3, or the third extended file system, is a journaling file system that has gained significant usage among Linux operating system users. It serves as the default file system for Red Hat, Fedora, and Debian Linux distributions. There are four primary reasons to migrate from EXT2 to EXT3: availability, data integrity, speed, and a seamless transition. 1. Availability: EXT3 offers improved reliability compared to its predecessor, EXT2, as it is designed to minimize the risk of data loss in case of unexpected system crashes or power outages. This is achieved through its journaling capability, which records changes to the file system before they are committed to the actual storage. 2. Data Integrity: By maintaining a journal, EXT3 ensures that the file system remains consistent and can be quickly recovered to a stable state after an interruption. This is particularly important for systems that handle critical data, as it reduces the chances of corruption and increases overall data integrity. 3. Speed: Although journaling adds a slight overhead, EXT3 generally provides faster performance during system startups and recoveries. The time needed to check and repair file systems after a crash is significantly reduced due to the journaling process, allowing systems to come back online more promptly. 4. Easy Transition: Migrating from EXT2 to EXT3 is a relatively straightforward process. The file system can often be upgraded without the need for a complete reformatting or data loss. This ease of transition makes it an attractive choice for users who want to enhance their file system's capabilities without major disruptions. In summary, the adoption of EXT3 over EXT2 is driven by its enhanced availability, stronger data integrity guarantees, improved speed in recovery scenarios, and the simplicity of transitioning from the older file system. These factors make EXT3 a popular choice for Linux users seeking a robust and reliable file system solution.

Although its performance and scalability are less compelling than those of many competitors, such as ReiserFS and XFS, it has the significant advantage that it allows in-place upgrades from the popular EXT2 file system without requiring data to be backed up and restored.

The EXT3 file system adds, over its predecessor:

• A journal
• H-tree (hashed tree) directory indexes
• In-directory file types

Without these, any EXT3 file system is also a valid EXT2 file system. This has allowed well-tested and mature file system maintenance utilities (like fsck) for maintaining and repairing EXT2 file systems to also be used with EXT3 without major changes. It also makes conversion between the two file systems (both forward to EXT3 and backward to EXT2) straightforward.

EXT3 的 Linux 实现提供了三种日志记录级别：

1. Journaling: In this mode, both metadata and file contents are first written to the journal before being committed to the main file system. This enhances reliability, but at the cost of performance, as data needs to be written twice. 2. Writeback: With this option, metadata is journaled, but file contents are not. This results in faster operation; however, it poses a risk of out-of-order writes. For instance, if a file is being appended to during a crash, it might have garbage appended to it upon the next mount. 3. Ordered: Similar to writeback, but file contents are forcibly written to their original files after the associated metadata is written. This strikes a balance between reliability and performance and is therefore the default setting.

Conclusion

We have compiled two third-party utilities for performing Linux partition recovery and EXT2/EXT3 data recovery. These tools enable Linux data recovery, allowing you to recover files that were accidentally deleted. They are also capable of restoring corrupted files and can retrieve information from an inaccessible drive, making it effortless to recover EXT data.

"Recover Linux Partition in Windows" FAQs

If you still have questions, you can refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section:

How do I repair a damaged partition table?

开始 分区表修复 过程：

Step 1. Right-click on "This PC/My Computer", choose "Manage", and enter Disk Management.

Step 2. Right-click on the disk that appears as "Not Initialized" and choose "Initialize Disk."

Step 3. Select the desired partition style for the chosen disk - either MBR or GPT - and click "OK" to confirm.

Yes, it is possible to recover data from a deleted partition. However, the chances of successful recovery depend on various factors such as whether the partition was fully erased, if new data has been written to the drive, and the effectiveness of the data recovery tool used. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you attempt data recovery: 1. **Stop Using the Drive**: As soon as you realize the partition is deleted, avoid using the drive to prevent new data from overwriting the deleted files. 2. **Choose a Data Recovery Tool**: There are several reputable data recovery software options available, both free and paid, like Recuva, tools Data Recovery Wizard, or Disk Drill. Research and choose one that suits your needs. 3. **Download and Install**: Download the chosen software on a different device, as installing it directly on the affected drive might damage the deleted data. 4. **Connect the Drive**: Connect the drive with the deleted partition to the computer where the data recovery software is installed. 5. **Scan the Drive**: Launch the software and select the drive where the deleted partition was located. Start a deep scan to search for lost partitions and files. 6. **Preview and Recover Files**: Once the scan is complete, the software should display a list of recoverable files. Preview the files to ensure they're the ones you want to recover, then select them and initiate the recovery process. 7. **Save to a Different Location**: Save the recovered files to a different storage device or a separate partition to avoid any potential data overwrite. Keep in mind that while these steps can often lead to successful data recovery, there's no guarantee, especially if the partition was overwritten or the files were damaged. In severe cases, professional data recovery services might be necessary.

When a partition is typically deleted, the system removes its allocation within the hard drive, enabling that portion of the memory to be overwritten as required. As long as that section of the disk remains undisturbed, you still have the chance to recover the partition using a recovery tool.

Download and install the hard drive recovery software on your computer, then proceed with the following steps:

Step 1. Launch tools Data Recovery Wizard and scan the Ext2 or Ext3 drive.

Step 2. Preview the found Ext partition files from the scan results.

Step 3. Recover lost data from the Ext2 or Ext3 drive.

How can I recover my lost partition for free?

Recovering Linux Partition in Windows:

Step 1. Install and run the Partition Recovery tool on your computer. Select the disk or device from which you have lost one or more partitions, and click "Scan" to proceed.

Step 2. Allow the program to scan the selected disk and locate the lost partition(s).

Step 3. Double-click on the partition that is labeled as "Lost" with "Good" recoverability.

Step 4. Click "Recover Now" to complete the partition recovery process.

Can Windows 10 read ext4 file system?

Ext4, or the Extended File System version 4, is the file system utilized in Linux. While Linux is capable of supporting NTFS, Windows 10 does not inherently provide support for Ext4. Therefore, the answer to whether Windows 10 can read Ext4 is – No! However, you can employ third-party software to enable reading Ext4 files on Windows 10.