Convert NTFS partition to ext with data

Actually it is POSSIBLE.

You could easily convert NTFS to ext2 / ext3 with anyconvertfs from anyfs-tools:

http://anyfs-tools.sf.net/

Then you could convert it to ext4 with tune2fs.

Yes, I know this is an old post BUT, in case anyone else had this problem like I did, there is a solution, although it's time consuming.

1. If you have SOME free space, use gparted to shrink the "old" partition.
2. Then partition and format the new free space to ext4.
3. Copy Files over to the new partition.
4. Again, using gparted shrink the "old" partition.
5. Still in gparted, grow the "new" ext4 partition we created in step #2
6. Continue looping through steps 3-5 until you've moved all data to the "new" partition

Like I said, it would take a while, but I just got done doing that same thing with 120G of files. I'm abroad and don't have the cash to buy a new drive and so, with few options did this.

I don't understand why you say you don't have any place to put the data, and then ask if you can put it somewhere temporary "like partition or directory". So I will explain for if you have space on partition or directory okay?

I will pretend that directory has plenty of space on /tmp but you use wherever it really is okay?

lets say your ntfs disk is connected as second SATA hard drive. mount the ntfs partition on linux as example /mnt/ntfs. That will be fine. You may want to leave it like it is, but if not,

# cd /tmp
# mkdir /mnt/ntfs
# mount -t ntfs /dev/sdb1 /mnt/ntfs
# tar cvf ntfs.tar /mnt/ntfs
# umount /dev/sdb1
# fdisk /dev/sdb

Then press "D" for delete, "1" for partition 1, "N" for new, "P" for primary and accept the entire drive, then press "P" to list your new partition table and make sure it is the way you want it and that the partition is "type 83". press "w" when done.

Decide where you want that to be permanently. Like /morespace

Now do this:

# mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb1
# mkdir /morespace
# mount -t ext4 /dev/sdb1 /morespace

Now put into your /etc/fstab too, so when you reboot it is always there at /morespace

# man fstab

Now put everything back on your new directory:

# cd /morespace
# tar xvf /tmp/ntfs.tar .

done

As far as I know it is not possible. Back up your data on another partition/drive/external device. Then create ext4 filesystem and copy data from backup.