Linux and Windows 8: Fast Startup are at risk to Data

New features Fast Startup on Windows 8 gave rise to risk on the integrity of the filesystem if other operating systems are used to perform the writing on a Windows partition. Data loss allegedly occurred on a dual boot configuration involving Linux and Windows 8.

To avoid data loss and inconsistencies filesystem, users who installed Windows 7 and Linux on the same computer it is advisable to disable Fast Startup that introduced by Windows 7 and active by default. Features Fast Startup creating an issue because the feature does not turn off Windows 8 in full, but directs it in hibernation status specifically--although it looks like a real be booted when revived as all applications have been closed. Keep in mind, the Hibernate feature Fast Startup, Windows 8 will save your Windows session information--such as your cache (cache) that contains the status of the filesystem was last of the FAT and NTFS partitions associated--in image memory is restored during the Fast Startup.

This can lead to data loss when other operating systems is used to do the writing on this partition type easily: once reawakened, which counted off, but it's actually dihibernasikan, Windows will restore your operations with old data and information the filesystem. The risk arises not only when Linux installed on the disc in parallel, but also appear when other access types that differ from the base--such as Windows 7 and Windows PE 3.0 or from the recovery system be booted from a CD or USB Flash Drive.

In the test, the problem may appear when turning off System Windows 8 installed recently (fresh install) from the menu and then create a new file on the Windows partition with Linux distributions. After the sequence of the system (system sequence) starts, the newly created file does not appear in Windows. After removing the catch (unmounted) and associate (remount) partition testing, and after turning off your Windows with restart Windows, the files show up but can not read or corrupted. File edits are also often damaged. Although Windows is able to recover the filesystem system trials, it took up to an hour to fix 1.5 TB NTFS partitions, and a handful of files created or modified with Linux is lost during the process.

This problem is not new. On Windows 7 and older versions of Windows, there are also similar issues but on Fast Startupnya Windows 8 going on continuously considering most people menghibernasi their system without realizing what they really do. It is also potentially a problem when users use the Suspen-to-Disk on Linux and then load a different Linux when hibernation appear, but rare circumstances when the use of the ordinary.

Prevention

The developers of the ntfs-3 g filesystem drivers FUSE which is used widely by most Linux distributions have been aware of this issue since mid-September. Then, they integrate the two modifications to the main development branch of the driver; These changes cause the NTFS partitions can only be associated with a read-only mode (read-only) if the driver detects a Windows system with Fast Startup. This is done with the memeriksaversi ID disk NTFS metadata dri.(1, 2).

In fact, there is no release of ntfs-3 g driver new version that incorporates the changes; the last version of ntfs-3 g is almost a year ago. The developers of ntfs-3 g has been doing so, inform the developers of Fedora, which received two of these changes and integrate it on an update driver for Fedora 13.

Debian, openSUSE and Ubuntu, as well as most other Linux distributions have not been included in this update for the sake of providing protection and kernel driver FAT does not detect whether the partition used by Windows systems that enable Fast Startup. Therefore, users who have a dual boot Linux on a PC with Windows 8 smooth always consider precautionary measures. Ntfs-3 g Driver who hasn't been on the patch does not give the user a warning if the hibernation file on the Windows system partition; in fact, the driver is not able to detect whether a system has enabled Fast Startup on the other partition.

Klaus Knopper tells us that Knoppix 7.05 have included patch Fast Startup to ntfs-3 g driver. Also it seems to give the user the option to associate a partition by can-written (writable) and delete the hibernation file so that Windows can do a reload to perfection when the next pemulaian.

It is recommended for anyone who frequently use both operating systems to disable Fast Startup. How, open Control Panel and select the link "Choose what the power button does" under Power Options. Click on the "Change settings that are currently unavailable"; This will expose the panel with more choices where you can turn off the checkbox "fast Turn on startup". Without the features Fast Startup, Windows 8 will take somewhat longer to get started. Full Hibernate Status that can be activated on the same panel should be disabled centangannya, as Windows 8 maintain status information from all the dikatikan filesystem in memory with this option.

With a dual boot system, problems seem to also be prevented by writing the bootloader GRUB 2 on a file instead of on the first sector of the disk system; This file should then bootloader boot configuration is integrated with Windows 8. Start the Linux bootloader through reducing the risk: in this manner, Windows will release the catch him before partition booting different system. The same approach can also be done when a double memboot Windows 7 and 8 in order to avoid problems with this configuration. To do this, use the Windows 7 boot manager; This will occur if Windows 8 installed after Windows 7.

The risk of losing data with Fast Startup or Hibernation does not only occur in mounting Linux/Windows in parallel, but also appeared as a live version of Linux is loaded – e.g. from a USB flash drive, CD or DVD. Users who only occasionally load the Linux system does not need to turn off the feature options Fast Startup as they could load Linux after triggered by livelihood restarted on Windows; This option is only turned off the perfect Windows and allow other operating systems to start safely.