You can also have one partition for Linux and another for Windows on the same USB drive (FAT32 and EXT4 for example). Most of the time you will only have one USB key.īut it’s something to know if you try to read a hard drive from an old computer for example.
On Linux, you generally have a /boot, / and swap partition. On Windows, you can have C: and D: for example. PartitionsĪnother thing to understand is “partition”.Īs the name says, a partition is a specific part on the disk. Get all the information on this page if you are interested. You’ll also do your first project with me, just to make sure you are ready for the next level.
I’ll help you use the perfect hardware, plug everything in and install your first system. If you need help getting started on Raspberry Pi, I have an entire course to guide you through your first steps. Most of the time you will use EXT4 to keep your USB drive on Linux / Raspberry Pi OS, and one of the others if you want to make it readable on another platform. Here are the most used file systems right now:Įach file system has its own advantages and disadvantages, but this isn’t the focus of today’s post. Sometimes it may require an additional package, but it is possible. It’s a convention on how files are stored on the disk if you want.Įach operating system has its favorite file system, but Linux, and so Raspberry Pi OS, can read and write any file system. It doesn’t matter if it’s a USB drive, a hard disk or a SD card. File systemsīasically, file systems are the way your files will be saved on the device. Let’s start with a short introduction about everything you need to understand before going further. If you are lost in all these new words and abbreviations, request my free Raspberry Pi glossary here (PDF format)!