Linux2Win 🚀

A modern, high-performance C++20 / CMake solution that automatically detects Linux disks & USBs (when inserted or already present), validates and parses Linux data partitions (Ext2/3/4), strictly excludes boot/system/swap partitions, protects write safety with read-only enforcement, and projects data partitions as native Windows folders using Windows Projected File System (ProjFS).

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🌟 Key Features

1. Automatic Disk & Hotplug Monitoring:
   • Detects all existing physical drives (PhysicalDrive0 .. PhysicalDriveN).
   • Listens in real-time for USB and external disk insertion and removal via Win32 WM_DEVICECHANGE device interface hooks.
2. Strict Data-Only Partition Filtering:
   • Automatically inspects GPT and MBR partition tables.
   • Allowed Data Partitions: Linux Filesystem Data, Linux /home, Linux Root (x86_64, arm64, x86), /srv, /var, and user data partitions.
   • Excluded Partitions: EFI System Partitions (ESP), BIOS Boot, Linux /boot, Linux Swap, Microsoft Reserved (MSR), Microsoft Recovery.
3. Zero-Dependency Ext2/Ext3/Ext4 Engine:
   • Built-in, self-contained parser supporting 64-bit block addressing, extents trees, directory hash/linear entries, fast & regular symlinks, and inode table parsing.
4. Native Windows Explorer Integration (ProjFS):
   • Projects the Linux filesystem directly into C:\LinuxDisks\Disk<N>_Part<M> using the Windows Projected File System.
   • Standard Windows Explorer operations: double-click to open files, view properties, drag-and-drop, and copy files/folders directly to Windows drives.
5. Enforced Read-Only Safety:
   • Drive handles opened strictly in GENERIC_READ mode with FILE_SHARE_READ | FILE_SHARE_WRITE.
   • File attributes tagged with FILE_ATTRIBUTE_READONLY.
   • All write, modify, truncate, and delete operations are blocked (ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED).
6. Memory-Resident Background Daemon & System Tray:
   • Runs quietly in the notification area with a sleek context menu.
   • Interactive permission prompt asking user consent for Windows startup.
   • Desktop balloon notifications when Linux partitions are mounted or unmounted.

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📦 Windows Setup & Installation

Linux2Win provides an integrated Windows Setup Wizard (linux2win_setup.exe):

1. Interactive Startup Permission: Asks for permission to load on Windows startup in memory-resident background mode.
2. Explorer Shortcuts: Automatically creates desktop and Start Menu shortcuts to C:\LinuxDisks.
3. ProjFS Feature Activator: Enables the Windows Projected File System feature if not active.
4. Clean Uninstallation: Registers with Windows Add or Remove Programs and generates uninstall.exe.

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💻 CLI Usage

# Scan all physical drives and classify partitions (shows data vs excluded boot/swap partitions)
.\linux2win.exe scan

# Start real-time hotplug monitor (detects USB / drive insertion and removal)
.\linux2win.exe monitor

# Auto-mount all detected Linux data partitions to Windows folders
.\linux2win.exe auto

# Mount a specific Linux data partition as a Windows folder via ProjFS
.\linux2win.exe mount <disk_index> <partition_number> [target_folder]
# Example:
.\linux2win.exe mount 1 2 C:\LinuxDisks\Drive1_Part2

# List directory contents on a Linux partition
.\linux2win.exe ls <disk_index> <partition_number> [path]
# Example:
.\linux2win.exe ls 1 2 /home/user

# Display contents of a file on Linux partition
.\linux2win.exe cat <disk_index> <partition_number> <file_path>

# Safely copy/export a file or folder from Linux partition to Windows
.\linux2win.exe export <disk_index> <partition_number> <linux_path> <windows_target_dir>
# Example:
.\linux2win.exe export 1 2 /etc/fstab C:\Users\YourUser\Desktop

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🛠️ Building from Source

Prerequisites

• Visual Studio 2022 (with MSVC C++20 toolchain)
• CMake 3.20+
• Windows 10 (1809+) or Windows 11

Build Instructions

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/APS-PPR-2016/Linux2Win.git
cd Linux2Win

# Configure with MSVC 2022
cmake -B build -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -A x64

# Build Release binaries
cmake --build build --config Release

# Run automated unit tests
cd build
ctest -C Release --output-on-failure

# Package ZIP distribution
cpack -C Release -G ZIP

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☕ Support the Project

If you find Linux2Win useful, please consider supporting the project:

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📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.