re sizing linux partion and add freespace to windows

dark_angel

dark_angel

Member
Hello,
I have a dual boot of linux ubuntu and windows xp and want to resize the linux partion to make it small (only 30 gb instead of 80) and add that free space on tot he windows to make it 80 instead of 30). Will attach photo of partions. How can i do this? can i just delete the linux partion and then just resize windows and not use any windows stuff?
any help is appreciated.
partion.jpg
 
For that you would simply use the live for cd version of the Linux Gnome Partition Editor known as GParted. If you have a cd or dvd burner you burn the 0.3.3.0 release's iso image to a cd-r and boot up from that. The download page is found at http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=115843&package_id=173828

The 0.3.3.0 release is one of the few "platform independent" versions of the Linux drive tool and the last apparently for some time now. This will work on MS as well as VFat even OS X and other partition types. The full documention explaining it's use with screen shots can be looked over at http://gparted.sourceforge.net/larry/generalities/gparted.htm

One thing to know about shrinking partitions is that this will take far longer then expanding one. XP's own drive tool lacks the ability to move or resize partitions while Vista now sees that on both the drive tools included on the installation disk and with the Disk Management tool in the new version.

The dropdown list of drives/partitions is seen on the far right on the menu bar while the first hard drive is displayed in the main gui once loaded. Once you have used it a few times you won't be using any retail product. Without a distro for a new build here for XP and Vista GParted was still the tool used. Surprised you haven't heard of it. That will get your drive resized good. Just plan to backup things as a precsution however.
 
ok thanks. i booted it up and had a look and it looks fairly simple. Just resize linux smaller and resize windows bigger after. so I should backup documents etc as a precaution altough it should be no lose right.
 
dark_angel said:
ok thanks. i booted it up and had a look and it looks fairly simple. Just resize linux smaller and resize windows bigger after. so I should backup documents etc as a precaution altough it should be no lose right.
Click to expand...

Backing up important and personal files would be highly advised whenever you're about to play with partitions. It just makes sense:)
 
The idea of taking the time to backup anything unreplacable is just in case of any unforeseen mishap. Generally a partition in good working shape and a reliable burn of GParted onto a disk will go smooth without problems. But frequent backups as well as taking precautions there for this would be the smart move.
 
ok well it has downsized using gparted the linux partion so have 60gb unallocated. Won't let me resize windows one in gparted but if i go into norton partion majic i can redistribute free space to windows c drive. should i do that?
 
Gparted should work for that. Did you try doing both resizes in the same session, or one at a time? You should shrink the Linux partition first, then Apply the changes. After it's resized, then make the Windows one larger, then Apply. If that doesn't work...odd. Try NPM.
 
did it one at a time. but after it fished aplly downsize it says theres un allocated space but won't let me upsize windows partion.
 
Which release did you download? There are only a few of the live versions that are platform independent. The screen shot here shows what to look for under the architecture column. The 0.3.3.0 release was the last and loads quite a bit faster then the previous versions. The free version of BurnOn works great for seeing good burns of the 35mb iso image. http://www.burnworld.com/burnoncddvd/

gpartedlive4cdsq5.jpg
 
got the 0.3.3.0 version. it shows me it has resized linux down to 20g and has 60 gb unallocated but i go to resize windows to make it larger it is greyed out can only downsize. do i need to do something to unallocated part first or should it just work?
 
You should have been able to readily expand the MS primary if you saw a good burn to disk and reviewed the small section on that in the documentation. There are two ways to shrink or grow a partition once you have opened the resize screen that comes up when you click on the menu option.

The first is the up and down arrows best for small changes or "tweaks" since that moves slowly and in small increments. The other much faster option is to click and hold on the indicator bar once you have highlighted the Windows primary and watch what looks like clamps grab onto the tab.

You can quickly slide that to where you want the end of the partition to reach. In that case it would be up against the root or swap partition for ubuntu there. Then all you do is click the apply button and watch it go. What did you use for a burning program?
 
used ultraiso to burn image. The downsize worked fine and i logged on to that partion and it had gone down to 20gb. I click on resize windows partion but the up arrow is greyed out and i cant move the indicator bar up more.
 
Try the BurnOn program. I've had great results with GParted as well as some live distros. The other thought would be a bad burn from a bad copy downloaded or the disk was at fault. I've had a few to toss at times no matter how good the brand was.

(disk throwing contest anyone?:P )
 
Was it a bad burn? Sometimes the media or the program simply needs to be changed. Once you know you have a good download make an extra copy and store it away for safe keeping.
 
apparently bad burn. Burned a new one and it worked fine. Strange how it worked for downsizing the linux partition though.
 
GParted as well as QParted are both native to Linux. The 0.3.3.0 release like only a few others was made cross platform capable due to people dual and multi booting other OSs along with one or more Linux distro. They also wanted to attract more interest in the OS itself by making it easier for mainly Windows and Mac users to have something to work with.

A bad burn is nothing new here. That's why I pointed to that as the more likely problem. Sometimes you simply get a bad disk out of a new container. At other times it's the program used. With the free version of BurnOn mentioned earlier I usually have to run the system file checker in XP after using that one a few times. The next set of iso burns will be with Vista to see if the same problem comes up where the program stalls.
 
dark_angel said:
Thanks PC eye and imsati for the help. Got it done! Now i know for next time
Thanks again
Click to expand...

Hey, great to hear! When burning a .iso file, the general rule of thumb is to always burn at the slowest speed supported by your Drive. For me, it's 8x. This will ensure that the burning programs takes it's time and is more 'careful' per se and lessen the chance of an error.
 
I never even check what speed the cd writer or dvd burner used is actually burning at since I generally see reliable burns with the right media and a good program with the exception of the occasion frisbie out of some 100 blamks in a container. For a small 35mb file I simply run the burn without looking. When backing up a drive then everything has to go through the verification process before and after the burn.
 
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