Does anyone know how to format a HDD as EXT3 on Windows 7?

m5rcc

I really don't want to install Linux on a partition on my PC if it can be helped...

Mista_C

m5rcc wrote: »

I really don't want to install Linux on a partition on my PC if it can be helped...

Windows doesn't support EXT3. Without Googling for a tool that might do it (there's probably a few I can't think of off the top of my head, the kind that format USB flash drives for instance) the quickest way would probably be to fire up a Live CD and format the drive from there.

m5rcc

Mista_C wrote: »

Windows doesn't support EXT3. Without Googling for a tool that might do it (there's probably a few I can't think of off the top of my head, the kind that format USB flash drives for instance) the quickest way would probably be to fire up a Live CD and format the drive from there.

It's for my router to download BT overnight and it recommends EXT3.

I shall attempt to run Live CD.

m5rcc

Found that EASEUS Partition Master Pro works on Win 7 with no issues.

John_Gray

Maybe I misunderstand you, but having got EaseUS to create this ext3 partition, what are you going to use to access it? (as Mista_C says...)

Toxteth_OGrady

I would guess it's a NAS-like USB storage extension plugged into the router.

m5rcc

Toxteth_OGrady wrote: »

I would guess it's a NAS-like USB storage extension plugged into the router.

Correct. The USB HDD needs to be as EXT3 for best performance on an Asus RT-N56U router.

pledgeX

I'm pretty sure GParted can do this.

I'm not 100% as I've not used it for a couple of years, but that's what I used when I needed to sort out my partitions to dual boot linux a while back.

fwor

pledgeX wrote: »

I'm pretty sure GParted can do this.

Indeed it can - GPARTED from a current linux LiveCD will handle pretty much any format you're likely to need, including EXT2, 3 and 4, HFS+ and even the long awaited BTRFS (though you may need to download a kernel module or two for the latter).

prowla

You could install a VM running Linux on your Windows PC.

fwor

I don't think that will work - I suspect that you won't be able to write a filesystem that the host OS doesn't understand.