Resizing dual-boot partitions after install

**budman7** · 05-09-2005

I would partition the unallocated space, don't format it though.

**nmaster64** · 05-09-2005

Originally Posted by budman7

I would partition the unallocated space, don't format it though.

Got ya, I'll get to it and chime back in later...

**borromini** · 05-09-2005

If I were you, i'd let Xandros do it... Unless it has no graphical partitioning tool when installing.

**nmaster64** · 05-09-2005

So here's what happened:

I wiped all the partitions and then just expanded the Windows partition to take up the whole drive. Then I let the Xandros installation resize everything for me. Unfortunately, it encountered an unkown error during installation. So I then started over, again deleting all but the Windows partition, but this time manually created my own swap and linux partitions. Installation on these went fine. Everything seems to be working ok now, although it is sizeably less than I wanted (only 5GB), but it works.

Just curious, why is it that there is always like a 5GB extended partition in between my Windows and Linux partitions?

**budman7** · 05-09-2005

That extended partition is the sum of all drives after it.
This is mine, notice the hda2

Code:

 Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hda1               1        1761    14145201   83  Linux
/dev/hda2            3650       14593    87907680    f  W95 Ext'd &#40;LBA&#41;
/dev/hda3            1762        1891     1044225   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/hda4            1892        3649    14121135   83  Linux
/dev/hda5            3650        5561    15358108+  83  Linux
/dev/hda6            5562        7473    15358108+  83  Linux
/dev/hda7            7474        9385    15358108+  83  Linux
/dev/hda8            9386       11042    13309821   83  Linux
/dev/hda9           11043       12700    13309852   83  Linux
/dev/hda10          12700       14593    15213523+  83  Linux

There is nothing on hda2, it is just a sum of the rest.

**borromini** · 05-09-2005

Originally Posted by nmaster64

So here's what happened:

I wiped all the partitions and then just expanded the Windows partition to take up the whole drive. Then I let the Xandros installation resize everything for me. Unfortunately, it encountered an unkown error during installation. So I then started over, again deleting all but the Windows partition, but this time manually created my own swap and linux partitions. Installation on these went fine. Everything seems to be working ok now, although it is sizeably less than I wanted (only 5GB), but it works.

Just curious, why is it that there is always like a 5GB extended partition in between my Windows and Linux partitions?

Why did you expand the Windows partition if you'd let Xandros resize it (again) afterwards? That's a bit useless i think. In PartitionMagic you have a graphical overview of your partition, there you can find out if you used all the empty space (I suppose you did, but anyway). You can also look at your fstab, but it's less readable

**nmaster64** · 05-09-2005

[quote="borromini"]Why did you expand the Windows partition if you'd let Xandros resize it (again) afterwards? That's a bit useless i think.[quote]

Useless, yes, but it still seemed easier.

**H8_XP** · 05-09-2005

Hello, I've got a question. I have a copy of Suse, is it possible to install that on the same drive as my XP installation? If so, what do I need to make it succesfull? Partition managers? Also, how would the computer know what OS to boot?

**budman7** · 05-09-2005

Originally Posted by H8_XP

Hello, I've got a question. I have a copy of Suse, is it possible to install that on the same drive as my XP installation? If so, what do I need to make it succesfull? Partition managers? Also, how would the computer know what OS to boot?

Just put the SUSE cd in and reboot.
SUSE will offer to resize your Windows partitio for you.
SUSE will set up a dual-boot for you.
To answer the last question, when you start the machine, you will be given the option of which OS to boot into. If you don't make a choice after 8 seconds, SUSE will boot.
These options can be changed, if you want Windows to boot by default, or if you want more time to decide.
Your choice.

**H8_XP** · 05-09-2005

Thanks Much, wow, even the free stuff amazes me!

Thread Tools

Display

Posting Permissions