how can i read the data on an ntfs drive that was taken from another
computer?  is ntfs designed to prevent this?

Hi yakker, 

There really is nothing to prevent you from reading the NT file system
drive on a different computer, except for the fact that some operating
systems are unable to read NTFS drives.

"The limitation of the NTFS system, however, is that it is only
accessible under Windows NT [Includes Windows XP] and cannot be read
or even recognized from DOS or Windows 3.x, 95, or 98. In effect, any
partition organized using NTFS is effectively invisible to operating
systems other than Windows NT."
SOURCE: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnw98bk/html/fatfat32ntfsfilesystems.asp

There ARE ways that you can read this drive on your computer (but not
write to it), but you would have to be a relatively experienced user
to make sure that nothing is destroyed while you are doing this. If
you want me to take a quick look at the options available for you,
please tell me the operating system you are currently using and I will
respond with some ideas for you.

I hope this was the type of answer you were looking for. If you need
any clarifications, please let me know and I will do my best to get
back to you as soon as possible.

tisme-ga


Search Strategy Used (on Google):

ntfs drive read
ntfs drive operating systems windows 98

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Request for Answer Clarification by yakker-ga on 02 Jun 2003 00:38 PDT

my OS is NT4.  how are you sure it is allowed to take an NTFS drive
from one system and put it on another?  it seems like this would be a
bad security design.  what good is all the security measures of the OS
if i can just pull your drive out and read it on another system?

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Clarification of Answer by tisme-ga on 02 Jun 2003 07:43 PDT

Hello yakker,

Yes, I am sure you are able to do this. The only thing you need to do
is to download service pack 4 which includes an updated NTfs.sys file
that will allow you to access NTFS formatted partitions created in
Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

In addition, the linux operating system can read NTFS partitions and
ignores all security precautions. Basically NTFS alone is not security
enough, one needs to use a third party security program if one is
truly interested in having secure data. Most government organizations
smash up their hard drives when finished with them just to be sure
that the data cannot be accessed.

tisme-ga