advice sought on partition for a new note book (RESOLVED)

benhee · 2010-10-23 12:16:18

Hi #!ers
I Have just got a shiny new notebook, Lenovo U450, I am itching to put #! on it.
I need some advice regarding the partitioning, as I wish to keep win7 on it, at the moment,
the default partitioning is

1 - 200 MB - system backup I think.

2 - 187.69 GB primary - win7 etc.

3 - 30.25 GB extended - lenovo drivers etc.

4 - 14.75 GB primary - encrypted, I think for "personal safe" app.

Now the way I see it is that if I wish to keep win7, I'll have to shrink 2 as much as I can, then extend 3
and create any logical partitions I need for my statler #!s (ob for my main use and xfce for interest) installs,
Has anyone done similar, and are there any obvious pitfalls?
I have a little experience as on my current old elonex extentia box I boot 3 #! and a salix, but I got rid of XP.
So would welcome any input from my #! forum security blanket, before jumping in.

Last edited by benhee (2010-10-26 20:34:44)

Unia · 2010-10-23 12:36:39

The 200mb partition is Windows' boot partition, I have it too. Don't remove it if you want to keep Windows.
Can you copy everything that's in the 3rd partition over to your 2nd? This way, you could shrink partition two and remove partitions three and four and create an extended partition with Linux on it on the free space.

That'd look like this:

1. 200MB - Windows boot
2. x GB - Windows data partition
3. Extended partition:
4. Linux root partition
5. Separate Linux /home partition
6. Linux SWAP

benhee · 2010-10-23 14:26:49

thanks Unia,

I'll look into what you said as it seems the obvious solution.

benhee · 2010-10-23 14:39:07

One small query, I think I will copy the stuff from (3) to (2) then rename (3) so as to see if things still work, then I would still have the (3) partition to
go back to if there were problems. As most likely the system will be pointing to the (3) lenovo partition, also is the win7 own resizing app. OK to use? I haven't much of a clue when it comes to windows, but I think thats the way they intended it!

Last edited by benhee (2010-10-23 14:45:10)

Unia · 2010-10-23 15:09:04

You can't shrink a partition when it's mounted, so shrinking with the windows tool isn't the way to go. Download a liveCD of Gparted here, and boot your computer from it. Partition all you want!

benhee · 2010-10-23 17:56:15

Thanks again Unia,

Of course, never thought of that oops.
Yet to get myself an external cd/dvd rewriter, off to the shops tomorrow.
Fed up with win7 already, but still need it on the drive.

Unia · 2010-10-23 18:04:35

benhee wrote:

Fed up with win7 already, but still need it on the drive.

Same here, if I only would be done with school.. *sigh*
You're welcome

EDIT: It's also possible to create a LiveUSB of Gparted! No need to buy a cd/dvd-writer!
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/liveusb.php

Last edited by Unia (2010-10-23 18:05:29)

benhee · 2010-10-26 20:31:46

All systems go, used gparted on USB, all my partitions set up.
Shrunk win7 "C" (win7 app will work on dynamic partitions, but could not extend to the left )
with gparted enlarged extended "lenovo" partition ( left "D" as was, together with the other OEM partition ),
left me with 80gb for my #!s.
Live #! running ok, yet to do installs but should be a doddle ( pats self on the back, for considered approach, getting cautious in my old age ),
anyway I am always a bit disappointed if linux things work first time,
"works out of the box" doesn't sound like fun to me......enough ramblin'.

Last edited by benhee (2010-10-26 20:35:35)

Unia · 2010-10-27 11:06:01

^ Get Arch if you want to mess with your system

benhee · 2010-10-27 13:30:27

Thanks for all ideas Unia.

Good suggestion, but I'm a gentleman tinkerer, not a messer!

Unia · 2010-10-27 15:20:30

benhee wrote:

Thanks for all ideas Unia.
Good suggestion, but I'm a gentleman tinkerer, not a messer!

Call it whatever you want, Arch will give it to ya

CrunchBang Linux

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#1 2010-10-23 12:16:18

advice sought on partition for a new note book (RESOLVED)

#2 2010-10-23 12:36:39

Re: advice sought on partition for a new note book (RESOLVED)

#3 2010-10-23 14:26:49

Re: advice sought on partition for a new note book (RESOLVED)

#4 2010-10-23 14:39:07

Re: advice sought on partition for a new note book (RESOLVED)

#5 2010-10-23 15:09:04

Re: advice sought on partition for a new note book (RESOLVED)

#6 2010-10-23 17:56:15

Re: advice sought on partition for a new note book (RESOLVED)

#7 2010-10-23 18:04:35

Re: advice sought on partition for a new note book (RESOLVED)

#8 2010-10-26 20:31:46

Re: advice sought on partition for a new note book (RESOLVED)

#9 2010-10-27 11:06:01

Re: advice sought on partition for a new note book (RESOLVED)

#10 2010-10-27 13:30:27

Re: advice sought on partition for a new note book (RESOLVED)

#11 2010-10-27 15:20:30

Re: advice sought on partition for a new note book (RESOLVED)

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