Changing Partitions
Forum: HD Install
Topic: Changing Partitions
started by: dhatcher2@neo.rr.com
Posted by dhatcher2@neo.rr.com on Oct. 17 2004,14:41
I have a 5GB HD in my Compaq Laptop. I currently have the entire HD partitioned for FAT32/Windows. I want to free up 1700 MB for DSL (1500 MB boot and 200 MB swap), how can I do this without going into Windows - fdisk - delete partition - make partition? I do not want to trash my Windows install, I just want to change the FAT32 partition from 5000 MB to 3000 MB to free up some space for DSL. I do not have access to Partition Magic and need to know if there is any way to do this with utilities at my disposal (Windows fdisk or DSL cfdisk).
Posted by ke4nt1 on Oct. 17 2004,15:58
No, fdisk for windows/dos or linux is NOT a partition resizing utility.
cfdisk is NOT a resizing utility.
programs like parted, gnuparted, qtparted, are linux utilities that can
resize a partition, and create free space on your HD for adding partitions .
I'm not familiar with any free utilities for windows that do this.
Partitionmagic is a nice utility to use for this.
There are a number of downloadable CD Utility discs that you can get
that have the linux versions of these utilities on them..
System Restore , Ultimate Boot CD, etc..
73
ke4nt
Posted by clivesay on Oct. 17 2004,17:38
Here is a cd utility you can try. < System Rescue >I tried qtparted for the first time last night to resize a 80gig hd with ntfs. Although it didn't have windows on it, it did have a lot of files. I backed up the files on another hd, defraged the drive and booted into the cd. I ran qtparted, held my breath and resized the ntfs partition, rebooted and crossed my fingers. Everything worked perfectly. The files were all there just as I left them!
Use at your own risk, but worked for me OK.
Chris
Posted by ke4nt1 on Oct. 17 2004,18:54
clivesay has it correct..my post stating "system restore" was a typo/brainfart on my part..
system rescue is correct..
73
ke4nt
Posted by prayforwind on Oct. 22 2004,18:18
< FIPS > is your friend, and its free (as in GPL). With it you can shrink a FAT32 partition to make room for Linux install.Before use: Turn off Windows's virtual memory, and run a full defrag. Use FIPS to shrink your partition. Afterwards, turn Windows's virtual memory again. YMMV, but I've had success with it.
Posted by AwPhuch on Oct. 22 2004,19:27
Another option could be < ULTIMATE BOOT CD >Which as many useful "freeware" apps built on it and can re-size paritions...however remember once you change the arcitecture of the /boot dir things get whacky!
Brian
AwPhuch
Posted by Rapidweather on Oct. 22 2004,22:11
On the commercial side, I have used powerquest's DriveCopy with great success.Once I got a Debian setup running right, I just "cloned" it around to new hard drives and resized it to fit. Same thing with Mandrake. Worth the $$ if time is money. But, I hardly use a hard drive based OS anymore, since DSL came along.
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Posted by ke4nt1 on Oct. 22 2004,23:07
| Quote |
| But, I hardly use a hard drive based OS anymore, since DSL came along. |
amen.
Hard drives are good for storing DATA.
RAM is good for running DSL