I need a suggestion for rearrainging partitions
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Recently I got the chance to fiddle around with Ubuntu Linux and I kind of like it. I liked it enough that I’d like to install it on my desktop machine so I can actually use the real thing instead of a live CD or a virtual machine. However, I’m not sure I like it enough to consider it worth reformatting/repartitioning my hard disk and losing almost 70 gigs of data - some of which belongs to other members of my family.
The obvious solution is to set up a dual-boot system. I’ve seen a few “how-to” articles which explain how to do this in such a way as to not lose any data…
…but…
The way my 80 gig hard disk is partitioned, I have 6 drives ranging in size from 5 gigs to 25 gigs and my c: drive has less than 2 gigs free. About 90% of my free space is on the logical partition that the OS sees as drive H: - the opposite end of the disk from where I need it.
I know Partition Magic can resize, merge, and otherwise shuffle partitions around, but I also know that there’s no way I’m ever going to pay $70 for a program I’d only use once.
So, if anyone has any ideas on how I can get this partition table rearranged to make room for Linux without going into hock, I’d love to hear them.
Technorati Tags: windows, ubuntu, linux, dual+boot, hard+disk, partitioning, partition+magic, vmware
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I have done that using Partition Magic. But I am sure there will be some other ways around. May be you can insert the XP disc and boot from it. It will give you some options to re-partition your hard drive but I don’t think it will have options like merge and re-distribute.
But at least you can give it a try; let me know if that works.
As I recall from when I first set up XP, the re-partitioning options available on the setup disk all assume you don’t have anything worth saving on your drive. Typical Micro$loth mentality - “Obviously, they haven’t installed WinBlows yet, so what’s there is all junk.”
Disclaimer: I haven’t used that setup disk in about 6 or 8 months, so my memory may not be 100% accurate. But I am really sure . . .
Boot using the Ubuntu LiveCD until you reach the desktop. Navigate to System->Administration->Partition Editor to open GParted It is a partiton editor which will do just the same as partition magic.
I’m going to check into that option this evening sometime.
One of the things about Linux that intrigues me so is the whole “open source” thing.
Only thing that stops me from out-and-out switching to Linux is the fact that I doubt there’s an open source version of Flight Simulator 2004 around…