Don’t use ntfsfix in Linux, just turn off Fast Boot in Windows

Hi all,

What I need to say is, exactly as the title of this post. Please don’t do it. I know I have put a separate post about using ntfsfix command, but now I’d say “DON’T..!!”. Even if you don’t use the ntfsfix command, turn that damn thing off.

I have a dual boot, Windows 8.1 + Arch Linux and mounting NTFS was being a pain from the beginning. So, I was stupid to use the shortcut for that, unlocking the hibernation in Linux.

Cold_HybridBoot

As we all know, Windows 8+ uses Fast Boot option to boot up the system faster. There is no secret behind it, since it doesn’t shut down your PC, it simply hibernates. When you turn on, it wakes up from the hibernation and a full system start is done only at a restart.

So the problem is, Windows 8 put the hibernation lock not only to the Windows partition, but also for other NTFS partitions (and I have no clue why). Hence, when the system is hibernated and you logs in from Linux, then changes some files. No problem occurs until you’re on Linux. But when you go to Windows again, it detects the hibernated version is different now since it still has the old file structure. So it simply mark the changed files as corrupted. Boom..!!!

I learned this by the hard way, after seeing that my whole thesis was ruined. I always have a backup and this time I had DropBox at my side, but unfortunately the corrupted files were synced to the cloud as well. So I had to revert the changed files and lost some changes. But that was the price I had to pay for my stupidity.

So please, don’t use ntfsfix in Linux, just turn off Fast Boot in Windows. It will save your life at some point.

Cheers..!!

Some References :

http://askubuntu.com/questions/452071/why-disable-fast-boot-on-windows-8-when-having-dual-booting

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6320-fast-startup-turn-off-windows-8-a.html

http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-disable-or-enable-fast-startup-in-windows-8-1/

03 comments on “Don’t use ntfsfix in Linux, just turn off Fast Boot in Windows

  • João Portela , Direct link to comment

    I’m living the same issue, but I just can’t accept this condition! There must be a way, I mean, why the hell does Windows also locks the secondary partitions? What it it is a removable device, is it going to lock it as well? What happens if I remove it and try to mount it in another machine. There as to be a way of no allowing Windows to just set all the mounted NTFS partitions to locked!

  • João Portela , Direct link to comment

    In fact I’ve just tested that with my external drive. It uses NTFS and I’ve plugged in while in Windows, then I’ve shut down (with fastboot). Came to Linux (Debian), mounted the external HD without problems, but the secondary partition keeps complaining… Is there a way of making Windows to believe a certain partition is a removable media? I guess that would do the trick.

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