Partition a Hard Drive without Formatting

Dropkickmurphys · 06-15-2008, 05:33 PM

Hey, i was wondering if it is possible to partition a HDD without having to format it.

i have an old Laptop which i want to dual boot XP and Ubuntu linux, but it currently only has 1 patition and i dont wanna have to reinstall XP if possible

thanks,

Dave.

AMD Fanboy · 06-15-2008, 05:51 PM

There's some software that will allow you to do that. It's called Partition Magic, but it's pricey. There are others, but i have only had experience with Partition Magic.

Francisck · 06-15-2008, 05:51 PM

you could use Ubuntu wubi, which installs ubuntu inside windows and lets you dual boot with out having to partition the hard drive and it's easy to uninstall.

The new ubuntu "hardy heron" comes with wubi in the cd, just download, burn and pop the cd in while running windows.

Best Regards,
Francisco

Dropkickmurphys · 06-15-2008, 05:57 PM

thanks, but the laptop only has 128mb of memory, so it wont let me run the installer

Francisck · 06-15-2008, 06:09 PM

was that to me or to the post above?

I'm sure wubi doesn't use much ram.

TFT · 06-15-2008, 06:10 PM

There is a free one called GParted that will keep all files intact whilst partitioning, it's here http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

Dropkickmurphys · 06-15-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Francisck

was that to me or to the post above?

I'm sure wubi doesn't use much ram.

that was to you, if you read the bottom right hand side of the page it says "256mb ram", i tried it anyway and it wouldnt work.

Quote:

There is a free one called GParted that will keep all files intact whilst partitioning, it's here http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

thanks, ill give it a go

Francisck · 06-15-2008, 06:19 PM

The I hope the gparted works.

06-15-2008, 05:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dropkickmurphys Diamond Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Worthing, UK (Uni at Kent) Age: 19 Posts: 1,803	Partition a Hard Drive without Formatting Hey, i was wondering if it is possible to partition a HDD without having to format it. i have an old Laptop which i want to dual boot XP and Ubuntu linux, but it currently only has 1 patition and i dont wanna have to reinstall XP if possible thanks, Dave. __________________ Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.4Ghz (OC @ 2.5GHz) Gigabyte P35C-DS3R motherboard 2GB 6400 DDR240 RAM (OC @ 427.5mhz) 512Mb Geforce 8600GT (OC core: 651Mhz, memory: 475Mhz) 500GB Seagate 7,500RPM HDD Lite-on 20x DVD+RW OCZ GameXStream 600W PSU CoolerMaster Black Centurian 534 Case Samsung 19" 1440x900 SyncMaster 940BW monitor / Samsung 19" 1440x900 TV Dual Booting: Windows XP Proffessional SP2 / Windows Vista Business SP1

06-15-2008, 05:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
AMD Fanboy Bronze Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Philadelphia, MS Age: 38 Posts: 93	There's some software that will allow you to do that. It's called Partition Magic, but it's pricey. There are others, but i have only had experience with Partition Magic. __________________ CompTIA A+ (2007) CompTIA Network + (2007)

06-15-2008, 05:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
Francisck Silver Member Join Date: May 2008 Age: 23 Posts: 239	you could use Ubuntu wubi, which installs ubuntu inside windows and lets you dual boot with out having to partition the hard drive and it's easy to uninstall. The new ubuntu "hardy heron" comes with wubi in the cd, just download, burn and pop the cd in while running windows. Best Regards, Francisco __________________ Religion is metaphysical statism. I will be ruled by no man on earth, nor by any god in heaven. Last edited by Francisck; 06-15-2008 at 05:52 PM. Reason: put linux instead of windows

06-15-2008, 05:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dropkickmurphys Diamond Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Worthing, UK (Uni at Kent) Age: 19 Posts: 1,803	thanks, but the laptop only has 128mb of memory, so it wont let me run the installer __________________ Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.4Ghz (OC @ 2.5GHz) Gigabyte P35C-DS3R motherboard 2GB 6400 DDR240 RAM (OC @ 427.5mhz) 512Mb Geforce 8600GT (OC core: 651Mhz, memory: 475Mhz) 500GB Seagate 7,500RPM HDD Lite-on 20x DVD+RW OCZ GameXStream 600W PSU CoolerMaster Black Centurian 534 Case Samsung 19" 1440x900 SyncMaster 940BW monitor / Samsung 19" 1440x900 TV Dual Booting: Windows XP Proffessional SP2 / Windows Vista Business SP1

06-15-2008, 06:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Francisck Silver Member Join Date: May 2008 Age: 23 Posts: 239	was that to me or to the post above? I'm sure wubi doesn't use much ram. __________________ Religion is metaphysical statism. I will be ruled by no man on earth, nor by any god in heaven.

06-15-2008, 06:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
TFT Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Yorkshire, UK Posts: 1,850	There is a free one called GParted that will keep all files intact whilst partitioning, it's here http://gparted.sourceforge.net/ __________________ Operator: Dave Operating System: XP Professional SP2 Processor: Intel E6750 Core Duo@3.20GHz Graphics: Nvidia 8500GT C: Drive 500GB D: Drive 250GB Memory: 2GB

06-15-2008, 06:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
Francisck Silver Member Join Date: May 2008 Age: 23 Posts: 239	The I hope the gparted works. __________________ Religion is metaphysical statism. I will be ruled by no man on earth, nor by any god in heaven.

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