Is there a distribution that has NTFS writing turned on by default?

I'm currently running dual-boot CentOS 4.1/XP on my laptop. I have a
2nd laptop that I would like to set up similarly (but better). One of
the things I would like is a distro that can read/write NTFS
natively--I know the support is experimental to some people, but I
don't care. However, I have no interest in configuring and/or
compiling a kernel myself. I would like to get one configured "right"
out of the box.

What I want is:

X support (I don't care between gnome and kde as I have my own
WM and use it mostly to get me into emacs, which is also my
own version).

NTFS

ext2 support (I'm not certain on SELinux as I can't use
Partition Magic to copy/resize partitions written under
CentOS--I haven't resolved that issue yet. I think ACLs are
the problem. I know I don't wan't ReiserFS or ext3
partitions. I want vanilla backward-compatible partitions. I
wouldn't even want NTFS, but that's how I've got XP working
and converting NTFS to FAT32 breaks my installation, so I
*need* NTFS.)

Nice to have:

Top-notch easy-to-use Java and Mono support

Easy to use WLAN support

Note both laptops are approximately the same (i.e. IBM thinkpad a30p,
but different actual models so the graphics drivers etc. are not
identical). In the end I want to swap the disk between the two
systems and have it just boot on which ever laptop it is plugged
into--and then, I'll clone two copies of the disk and I'll have a
running system and a hot-spare.

I've got XP running so I can do that today. (Yes, I have the
requisite licenses for XP et. al. on both machines.) However, because
the disk I want to move the software to is a slightly different
geometry than the disk I am moving from I need to resize the
partitions when I move them and neither gnuparted nor partition magic
like the partitions CentOS has written. (Note if it weren't for the
partition issue, I would be parfectly happy with CentOS.)

Therefore, I figure I'll install a new OS (on the 2nd system) from
scratch, one I can use the partitioning tools on. Then, I'll copy my
user data over (using tar). Then, I'll clone using the partitioning
tools, that system to the other disk (for the 1st system).

Any advice appreciated, thanks,
-Chris
.

Relevant Pages

  • RE: Lost access after cloning disk.
    ... systems that were not deployed following the support Microsoft process. ... 298491 How To Use the System Preparation Tool to Perform Disk ... Microsoft Online Support ... | disk clone and all the partitions show up with the correct drive letters. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.file_system)
  • Re: Space Constrained HD - SBS SP1 size concern
    ... appear as seperate disks and not partitions. ... obstacle or if the sofware accomodates disk management like this. ... >>> reserve the right to refuse support of systems with partitions adjusted ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: Hard disk copying/cloning
    ... > another hard disk. ... Are there hidden OEM partitions that have to be ... Are you saying there's a CD burner on the laptop? ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.setup)
  • Re: Is there a distribution that has NTFS writing turned on by default?
    ... the things I would like is a distro that can read/write NTFS ... natively--I know the support is experimental to some people, ... Partition Magic to copy/resize partitions written under ... In the end I want to swap the disk between the two ...
    (comp.os.linux.setup)
  • Re: Hard disk copying/cloning
    ... I'm not sure about hidden OEM partitions. ... The laptop has a CD burner a floppy disk drive and a lan ... I have a desktop on a network with plenty of spare hard disk space if this ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.setup)