Re: [LUG] Resizing partitions.

Mat,

Thank you for this pretty comprehensive set of instructions and advice. As soon as I have time, I will attempt this ostensibly daunting task. Hopefully, there will be other Linux users who will find this of use. I was interested to note your comment about Ubuntu; does that include the latest iteration? What Linux Os(s) do you like to use?

Thanks again. Jack.

> Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:33:54 +0000
> From: ifindthatinteresting@xxxxxxxxx
> To: list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [LUG] Resizing partitions.
>
> People are really making this sound a lot more complicated than it
> actually is - I have done this more times than I care to remember with
> no issues that aren't easily fixed. Your steps are:
>
> Install a third party de-fragmentation tool in windows (auslogic
> freeware is fine) and do several runs. Windows native defrag is
> worthless so your NTFS partitions *will* have system and reserved files
> misallocated randomly all over their available space: when partition
> tools such as window's native disk management MMC snap-in or gparted
> fail to reduce a partition by as much as you want/expect it is because
> they are hitting these rogue file allocations and failing to move them.
> Non-native defragging effectively zeroes out all the slack space and
> consolidates file towards the start of the partition. The same thing can
> be achieved on linux ext partitions with "cat /dev/zero > /delete.me &&
> sync && rm /delete.me && sync".
>
> Once you have effectively cleaned all the garbage sectors your choice of
> disk partition tools will be able to shrink your partition(s) properly
> rather than returning short values. Your next task is to optionally nuke
> any pointless recovery partitions, providing you have install media of
> course. If you don't have install media, you should get some and nuke
> the recovery partition anyway. Don't touch the ~100Mb system reserved
> partition at the start of your first hard disk, windows
> vista/7/8/2003/2008 will totally fail without it.
>
> Gparted is *the* tool of choice - it has never failed me in literally
> thousands of operations. Resize your windows partition to your chosen
> extent and then resize your existing linux partition(s) to fill your
> newly freed space accordingly. Reboot.
>
> Windows will quite possibly fail to load at this stage, which is sadly
> quite normal. This is why you will have installed the recovery console
> earlier. Alternatively just use your install media and boot to the
> "repair windows" option which combined with a full chkdsk, will make
> windows boot normally again. Sometimes, rarely, you will have to do both
> even though you have merely resized the windows partition rather than
> actually moved it. Have your favourite rescue CD on hand - the gparted
> CD will also serve for this - just in case you need to do any further
> fiddling with the bootloader: ubuntu, which isn't very good anymore,
> will also sometimes fail to boot cleanly after disk resize operations.
> If you're not particularly good with command line voodoo or manually
> controlling GRUB prompts the supergrub rescue/boot CDs are excellent for
> finding and booting operating systems with trashed boot loaders. If
> necessary, boot via live CD, chroot into your existing ubuntu install
> and reinstall GRUB.
>
> It's extremely unlikely that you will need to do anything other than
> manually defrag, resize partitions from the gparted live CD, and reboot.
> Obviously it should go without saying that you *must* backup all
> important data before any disk partitioning operations. Even with the
> best tools, guru-level skills and 100% confidence, if you get a power
> cut in the middle of a resize operation you will probably lose everything.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Mat
>
>
> --
> The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG
> http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list
> FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq