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How do I copy files from one NTFS drive to another NTFS drive via a Linux drive retaining all metadata (Timestamp etc.)?

I am replacing one NTFS drive with another in a dual boot Linux Mint/Windows 7 system. 512 GB of data needs to go to a 3TB drive. Both are NTFS. Because one replaces the other, they cannot be mounted in the system at the same time. The only drive I have left that has enough space to store the data temporarily is the QNAP NAS. This of course, runs on Linux, I believe it is formatted in EXT4.

What I want to do is: temporarily store the data from the 512 GB NTFS drive on the NAS and then after I remove this drive and install the 3 TB NTFS drive, I want to 'restore' it to the 3 TB NTFS drive. I want all the metadata to stay intact. The NAS drives are mounted as regular drives through the FSTAB file.

How do I copy the files? If I need to use the CLI, please, tell me in as much detail as you can.

Thanx,

Thom

Thomsterdam Web Design
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1 Answers1

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I thought it might be helpful if I came back to this to tell you what I decided to do in the end. I zipped all the data per folder to a zip file on my Qnap NAS. After replacing the hard drive I unpacked the folders/files to the new drive. The result was identical files including all the metadata such as creation date, etc. I worked like a charm.

Thom

Thomsterdam Web Design
  • 21