ntfsprogs

ntfsprogs is a package containing a suite of utilities; there is no single ntfsprogs command invocation. Instead, individual utilities are invoked as follows:

mkntfs [options] device
ntfsfix [options] device
ntfsresize [options] device
...

Each utility has its own specific set of options and arguments. Consult the man page for each individual utility (e.g., man ntfsfix) for detailed syntax and usage.

-h, --help
    Displays a help message for the specific utility and exits.

-V, --version
    Prints the version of the utility and exits.

-f, --force
    Forces the operation, even if the filesystem is dirty or marked as inconsistent. Use with extreme caution.

-n, --no-action, --dry-run
    Performs a dry run, showing what would be done without actually making any changes. Useful for testing.

-v, --verbose
    Increases the verbosity of the output, providing more details about the operation.

ntfsprogs is a comprehensive suite of command-line utilities designed for creating, checking, resizing, and managing NTFS filesystems from Linux. It provides essential tools for interacting with partitions commonly used by Microsoft Windows, offering functionalities like fixing inconsistencies, resizing partitions, cloning, and recovering data. The suite is built upon the libntfs library, enabling robust and reliable operations on NTFS volumes. Key utilities include mkntfs (to create NTFS filesystems), ntfsfix (to fix common NTFS problems), ntfsresize (to change filesystem size), and ntfsclone (to clone or backup NTFS partitions). This package is crucial for system administrators and users who need to perform low-level maintenance or data recovery on NTFS volumes without relying on a Windows operating system. It ensures interoperability and provides powerful diagnostic and repair capabilities for NTFS.

ntfsprogs utilities operate at a low level on filesystems and can potentially lead to data loss if misused. It is crucial to:
Backup Data: Always back up important data before performing any operations like resizing or fixing.
Unmount Filesystem: The target NTFS partition should ideally be unmounted before running most ntfsprogs utilities to prevent data corruption. Operations on a mounted filesystem can lead to severe data loss.
Root Privileges: Most operations require root privileges.
Dirty Filesystems: Be cautious when operating on filesystems marked as 'dirty'; running ntfsfix is often the first step, but it's not a guarantee against data loss for severe issues.

Here is a brief overview of some of the most frequently used utilities within the ntfsprogs suite:

mkntfs: Creates an NTFS filesystem on a specified device.
ntfsfix: Fixes common NTFS problems and forces Windows to check the filesystem on next boot.
ntfsresize: Resizes an NTFS filesystem without data loss, allowing for flexible partition management.
ntfsclone: Efficiently clones, backs up, restores, or converts NTFS filesystems.
ntfsinfo: Dumps detailed information about an NTFS volume or a specific file within it.
ntfslabel: Displays or sets the NTFS volume label.
ntfscat: Displays the contents of files stored on an NTFS volume without mounting it.

The ntfsprogs suite originated as part of the Linux-NTFS project, which aimed to provide full read/write support for the NTFS filesystem within the Linux kernel. Initial efforts focused on reverse-engineering the NTFS format. Over time, the project evolved to include a comprehensive set of userspace tools built upon the libntfs library, allowing for advanced filesystem management, repair, and data recovery tasks. These tools became indispensable for Linux users needing robust interaction with Windows partitions, filling a critical gap in native Linux filesystem utilities. Development has continued, ensuring compatibility with newer NTFS versions and improving stability and feature sets.

mount(8), fdisk(8), parted(8), mkfs(8), fsck(8)