Linux-Windows file and preferences share

Can I do this? I've set up a dual boot with W7Pro and Mint, with a 3rd storage partition. I'd like my Office files, multimdedia files and Firefox/Thunderbird settings, bookmarks and preferences to be synched between OS's so I can move from one OS to the other relatively seamlessly. I realize it won't be perfectly seamless but is it basically achievable?

 

Well I know firefox has "sign in to sync". email accounts are trickier, but you can use imap which should sync. Linux has native fat32 and ntfs support so reading the storage partition is not a problem. I'm just not sure if you can sync firefox preferences.
Also if you are using a bluetooth mouse, there is a workaround here to have the mouse work no matter which OS you boot.

 

Don't try to sync the configuration files directly unless you know what's happening under the hood. The differences between OSes will easily mess up your set up.
Firefox/Thunderbird does have cloud sync as S.Prime have pointed out. For most apps that don't have such features, you're out of luck.

If you're sure some files can be synced across the two OSes, delete the copy under Linux and replace it with a symlink pointing towards the Windows copy. Your Linux application will access that instead. Make sure the permissions under the Linux filesystem is correct if you need write access..


Not sure why you want to "sync" Office and multimedia files. They should just stay where they are ready to used.

 

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Ooops...too late. I just got done testing my shared preferences files for firefox and t-bird. I just copied my existing preferences folders, put them in the storage partition, and pointed new profiles in both OS's to them. I don't expect it to work perfectly..but it seems to work so far. What kind of problems should I be watching for? Add-ons and such aren't going to align perfectly but my bookmarks and emails are all there on both systems and thats the main thing I was hoping for

As far as Office files go I just wasnt sure if I save a file in Writer if its going to come out
looking the same when I open it in Word, and vice versa. Of course I can install Writer on Windows but I'd still like to know.

 

I didn't have any particular issue on my mind, but anything OS-specific could go wrong.

If you install the add-on on two sides, does it work? I'm afraid having existing preference while installing the new one would confuse the add-on. Does it delete or corrupt the existing preference?

For applications that are not critical you can try to sync, just keep in mind things could go wrong. For example, file system paths are formatted differently under the two OSes. If an application misinterprets a path saved from the other side, will it error out safely or will it go to the wrong path and modify/delete files it shouldn't touch? (This might not apply to FF/TB, who usually don't handle local files beyond their own.)



As for Office files, MS Office and LibreOffice are similar but still different. There are always formatting issues here and there. Actually even MS's own Office can't manage files from old versions properly.

 

It worked for a couple hours, now I can't check my mail from either OS using Thunderbird. I deleted my passwords and 2 of the 3 servers I have email accounts on won't work and Tbird won't ask for passwords. Oddly, one of the 3 servers has worked all along. So all is not Rosy in Mint Rosa right now.

 

Fixed it.