How to partition an active hard drive?

[Elliot B.]

I have Windows and a lot of important files stored on my 80 GB C:\ drive. I am using 30 GB at the moment and I want to set aside 30 GB to use to install Ubuntu. This is the current drive layout (all are physical hard drives):

C:\ 80 GB

D:\ 80 GB

E:\ 80 GB

F:\ 320 GB

I would like to split C:\ to this:

C:\ 50 GB (partition one)

G:\ 30 GB (same drive, partition two)

D:\ 80 GB

E:\ 80 GB

F:\ 320 GB

I want it as G:\ and not as the new D:\ as it would change the drive letter assignments for all the other drives.

How do you suggest I do this (if it's even possible)? I can back up all of the important data on C:\ if it needs to be formatted before splitting, but I'd rather it not come to that.

[kinetix63 Veteran]

Acronis Disk Director should allow you to do exactly what you want - it can re-size partitions easily.

Once re-partitioned, Windows will probably assign this as D: by default, but seeing it's not going to be the active partition, you should be able to change this easily enough from within Computer Management.

[Elliot B.]

  kinetix63 said:

Acronis Disk Director should allow you to do exactly what you want - it can re-size partitions easily.

Once re-partitioned, Windows will probably assign this as D: by default, but seeing it's not going to be the active partition, you should be able to change this easily enough from within Computer Management.

Got a Acronis Disk Director guide/tutorial? I don't want to lose any existing data.

[Pink Floyd Veteran]

my personal favorite is partition magic

I've never lost any data with PM

You can do it within windows and without even reformating anything at all

[Elliot B.]

I created a partition fine in Acronis Disk Director, but when I boot into Ubuntu (LiveCD), the installer doesn't recognise the partition. Acronis Disk Director formatted the partition it had created to the NTFS file system (although others were available). I know this is not what Linux uses, but I thought it would do what it needs (change the file system of the partition etc.) to what it wanted.

What do I do next? Change the partition's file system? Delete the partition and start again but using a different file system?

[Pink Floyd Veteran]

is the ntfs partition empty? if so, convert it in fat32. Linux is known to only read on ntfs partition. There is a plugin (shareware) where you can install and being able to write on ntfs partition but I heard it's very bugy

[Elliot B.]

Whether it is a NTFS or FAT32 partition, I get the same problem. When it asks to install, I choose the 'Manually edit partition table' option then choose the green 30 GB partition. When I get to the 'Prepare mount points' screen, I get confused. I click on the 'Format' button that is on the right of partition 2 and choose Next, but a message appears saying, 'No root file system'. This happens if I untick the format button too.

Any ideas?

EDIT: Screenshots attached.

Edited June 8, 2006 by King Mustard

[kinetix63 Veteran]

That's because Linux requires a seperate partition for swap space - it uses a different file system.

Split your 30 GB partition in to two. Make on 28GB, the other 2. That should let you proceed.

Alternatively, delete the 30GB partition, tell Ubuntu to use the largest continuous free space, and it SHOULD partition it all nicely for you.

[markwolfe Veteran]

Ummm... Your "green 30GB partition" is already formatted with a FAT filesystem on it!

You cannot install to that.

You need to remove that partition, and the installer will set up the necessary partitions in that space. :yes:

[Elliot B.]

  markjensen said:

Ummm... Your "green 30GB partition" is already formatted with a FAT filesystem on it!

You cannot install to that.

You need to remove that partition, and the installer will set up the necessary partitions in that space. :yes:

I am lost. If I delete that partition using Acronis Disk Director, I'll lose the 30 GB from the C:\

Man, see why no home users use Linux now? :rofl:

[kinetix63 Veteran]

No you won't. If you delete the FAT partition then it'll just be marked down as "unpartitioned space". Linux can then access this space and partition and format as it deems necessary.

[riahc3]

But he'll lose data if he formats....

Partition Magic i know better but Acronis Disk Director work great as well.

[kinetix63 Veteran]

He's not going to lose any data if he just deletes the 30GB FAT partition... NOT the partition Windows is installed to.

That is, of course, provided there is nothing on that FAT partition? I can't believe there would be if you just created it.

[ckempo]

You won't "lose" any space... kinetix is right.

Remove the 30GB partition (the ubuntu partitioner can do this.

Create two new partitions - the 28 - 2 split kinetix suggested is fine, do that (again from the live disk). The larger partition should be the ext3 filesystem, and the other will be used as swap.

When it asks about mount points, you do NOT want the /media/hda entries. Instead, remove those and enter "/" as the 28GB partition and the other as "swap" (or linux-swap. Or /swap. Can't remember off my head what the installer labels it as but it'll be obvious when you see it.

You should be fine from that point. And your Windows install shouldn't be affected because the unpartitioned space will not be assigned drive labels.

One more point - the live disk installer will install Grub (a linux bootloader) to your Master Boot record, meaning you'll see this first when you boot your machine. it's not a problem, just something new. It'll let you choose between booting Linux or Windows.

[+BudMan MVC]

  King Mustard said:

Man, see why no home users use Linux now? :rofl:

So your saying what - home users are not capable of understanding disk partitioning or file systems? Or what how to install an OS??

Or just that your are??

Or how to read and follow some simple instructions??

http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/...oot-laptop.html

Creating a Dual-Boot Windows XP and Ubuntu Laptop

http://users.tkk.fi/~tkarvine/linux-window...izing-ntfs.html

Dual boot Fedora Linux and Windows XP, resizing NTFS

http://phoenix.calpoly.edu/~kvoelker/cgi-b...2/dual-boot.cgi

How to Dual Boot Windows XP and Linux on a Single Hard Disk

etc.. etc.. etc...

Shoot heres a VIDEO walk through!!

Ubuntu Linux / Windows Dual Boot Instructional Video

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6104490811311898236

Do a simple google search for dual boot and linux and you find plenty of docs to hold your hand, and then wipe you when your done ;)

Please don't extend your lack of understanding or inability to learn to the rest of the planet!

edit: BTW -- there is also no need for Acronis or PM anything... Linux is quite capable of resizing a NTFS partition - and then creating and formating those partitions on the unallocated space all by itself.

[riahc3]

  BudMan said:

edit: BTW -- there is also no need for Acronis or PM anything... Linux is quite capable of resizing a NTFS partition - and then creating and formating those partitions on the unallocated space all by itself.

I agrred with your post till this. I do not recommend by anymeans to let Linux write anything related to a NTFS partition. Writing to a NTFS partitions is and problably will always be beta because NTFS I believe is created and owned by MS. Therefore I only recommend you reading from a NTFS partition.

[dt]

How can this be done in order to dual boot XP and Vista? Same way?.. Don't want to have to reformat the entire hd if Vista doesn't work nicely :p

[+BudMan MVC]

  rIaHc3 said:

Therefore I only recommend you reading from a NTFS partition.

Where did I say anything about adding files to a NTFS partition? I have resized many a NTFS partition, from NT, 2k, xp, 2k3 and have never had 1 issue..

So how is Acronis or PM -- both 3rd party apps any different than a linux app resizing NTFS?

http://mlf.linux.rulez.org/mlf/ezaz/ntfsresize.html

--

The Ntfsresize Frequently Asked Questions

The widely used and highly reliable Ntfsresize utility non-destructively resizes the NTFS filesystem of Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, Windows NT4 and Windows Vista. All NTFS versions are supported, used by 32-bit and 64-bit Windows. No defragmentation is required prior to resizing. Ntfsresize is included in the ntfsprogs package, developed by the Linux-NTFS project. You don't need Linux installed to use it because there are several ways to run it, for example by booting one of the many Linux Live CD, DVD or USB sticks (they run straight from the boot media then RAM, not from the hard disk).

Many freely available, easy to use, graphical softwares use Ntfsresize internally. Please use one of them unless you prefer doing the low level repartitioning yourself, in which case see also the Ntfsresize manual. This page answers only the questions that aren't already described there.

--

Then again resizing a NTFS partition is NOT the only option in dual booting off the same disk.. As long as there is unallocated space on the drive.. you do not have to resize anything ;)

If do not have open space -- you could always create it the MS way, and delete the partitions, create new ones and reinstall your windows OS, and or restore it from backup to new smaller partition.

edit: Yes as long as there is Unallocated space on the disk you can install Vista too it.. I am not aware that Vista can resize system partitions - would be a welcome feature though..

edit2: A quick search.. and yup "shrink" has been added to vistas diskpart command - nice!

Edited June 9, 2006 by BudMan

[Elliot B.]

Right, I deleted the partition so now I have:

C:\ 50 GB (partition one, don't want this partition knackered by Ubuntu!)

G:\ 30 GB (same drive, unallocated space)

D:\ 80 GB

E:\ 80 GB

F:\ 320 GB

I then did the following in Ubuntu (photos attached). Is this correct? Will I alter my C:\ Windows XP installation?

[Echilon]

  Pink Floyd said:

my personal favorite is partition magic

I've never lost any data with PM

You can do it within windows and without even reformating anything at all

I prefer PM aswell. Seeing as you want five partitions, you'll have to create three primary and two logical within an extended partition. Partition Magic wil sort it all out for you though.

[kinetix63 Veteran]

  Quote

I then did the following in Ubuntu (photos attached). Is this correct? Will I alter my C:\ Windows XP installation?

The steps in the attached screenshots are correct. No, it will not alter your Windows XP install.

[Elliot B.]

Driver effort/frustration now: https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=468431

[+BudMan MVC]

  Echilon said:

I prefer PM aswell. Seeing as you want five partitions, you'll have to create three primary and two logical within an extended partition. Partition Magic wil sort it all out for you though.

Where is he wanting to create 5 partitions??

1 for windows 2 for linux (swap and system)

1 + 2 = 3

Or are you using that new math? ;)

you must of missed this?

"This is the current drive layout (all are physical hard drives):"

[dt]

  dt said:

How can this be done in order to dual boot XP and Vista? Same way?.. Don't want to have to reformat the entire hd if Vista doesn't work nicely :p

Does anyone know? :/