Ext2Explore (formerly called Ext2Read) is a free and open-source utility designed to facilitate the exploration and reading of files stored in Linux-based ext file systems directly from a Windows environment. As Linux file systems are not natively supported by Windows, this tool bridges the gap, allowing users to access their files without needing to boot into Linux or use additional complex virtualization techniques.

Advanced computer users may install and use both Windows and Linux systems on the same computer. In this case, one of the major problems they face is file sharing between the two systems. In Linux system, you can easily access any file system under Windows by default. But on the other hand, you cannot access/display any file system under Linux in Windows system. Instead, you have to ask some third party software for help.

On hard disk, when you delete some folders, files or even an entire partition, all data is still existing in the same place where it was, and will always be there until overwritten. In fact, the deleting operation is just delete the pointer to the data on disk from MFT (Master File Table), so as to allow the operating system to perform writing operation there. Any data recovery software use this principle to work. Of course, you can delete the data truly and completely. But that requires you to ask special data eraser for help.