I can't imagine working without Linux. It's just a matter of perspective, tools of the trade etc. Again what's the normal case for Windows might not be normal or usual for other OSes.

Do agree changing your partitioning might feel scary. And it really can be, if you don't have a proper backup or a new disk to play with. In my perspective still a bad reason to run Linux on an exotic (to Linux) filesystem. I'd solve the backup or disk problem first. A small cheap disk would suffice, i can imagine. Maybe a nice zealous Linux user can give or lend you one over there?


The continuous disk IO is not optimal agreed, but we just have to live with that now. We all have to live with the shortcomings and quirks of many programs that bother us, and try to make the best of it.

The easiest and shortest route would be to switch or at least try a native Linux fs. But you don't want to, so I can't help to make you happy there.

A contribution post definitely earning the of the day. Thanks to these efforts members stumbling over the pits we now have more discussion on hand what to look out for, should the next research project launch first on Linux too.