Partitioning my hard-drive

[CookieMonster]

Hi, I was wondering if anybody knew of any programs/tools (preferably free), so that I can partition my hard-drive in my laptop and install ubuntu while also keeping vista.
I can't seem to get the partitioning tool that comes in the ubuntu installer to work.

Thanks, CookieMonster

[b.i.o]

Vista has a built in partition utility. Go to Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management, and click on storage. You can resize/remove/add partitions from there. Note that you likely will NOT be able to shrink the partition as much as you want to start with. If you can't, try defragmenting your hard drive--the built in Windows one can't move system files, so if you still can't shrink it enough, get a trial copy of PerfectDisc 8.0 and have it do a defrag at boot time. After that, you should be able to shrink your current partition as much as you want.

When you go to set up Ubuntu, you can partition the space you freed up however you want.


An alternate, and easier method though, is to just install Ubuntu with [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wubi_(Ubuntu)[/url]. It's a new feature of 8.04 that basically lets you install Ubuntu into Windows--it can be removed like a normal Windows program, but allows you to set aside a certain amount of space on your hard drive for Ubuntu, and allows you to boot into it as if it was installed on a separate partition. I haven't done it myself, but I've heard some very favorable reviews, so it's probably something that would be good to check out.

[CookieMonster]

Thanks, that seemed to have worked great!

An alternate, and easier method though, is to just install Ubuntu with [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wubi_(Ubuntu)[/url]. It's a new feature of 8.04 that basically lets you install Ubuntu into Windows--it can be removed like a normal Windows program, but allows you to set aside a certain amount of space on your hard drive for Ubuntu, and allows you to boot into it as if it was installed on a separate partition. I haven't done it myself, but I've heard some very favorable reviews, so it's probably something that would be good to check out.

I've already tried to install it this way, but the installer always crashes at the end

[b.i.o]

It's all working then?

Wonder why Wubi wasn't working...what version of Vista are you running?

[Popidge]

For some reason, the Ubuntu 8.04 installers have displayed douchebaggery of the highest degree for me as well, i haven't actually been able to get 8.04 installed onto it's own partiton from scratch yet. Wubi worked great, but i got bored of that novelty pretty soon.

Strange that Wubi didn't work properly though... maybe try checking the CD for defects (boot from it, select "check CD for defects"), that might throw something up.

Did you have any previous linux installations beforehand? 8.04 wouldn't install for me simply because i had a previously existing swap partition.. bit crappy if you ask me..

[CookieMonster]

I'm running vista Home Premium SP1 and i've never run any other OS.

I checked the MD5SUM before I burnt it to the disc and everything seemed OK.

[b.i.o]

Probably not an issue with the CD--Wubi is new and there are bound to be some bugs.

[TheTankengine]

Wubi has actually been around for a year. This is the first release of Ubuntu that actually includes it, though.

[b.i.o]

Really? Never actually heard anybody talking about it before now.

[merc]

There's also this: http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page

It's a disc with a bunch of great tools for fixing your computer if something goes wrong, and it includes a (graphical) tool for partitioning your hard drives. Just pop it in, and press enter to boot the cd. When you get to the terminal, type "wizard," hit enter, and choose an option. That will start the graphical interface. At the bottom of the screen will be a button for "GParted." Click it, and partition away!

Just in case you ever need to partition without Windows lying around.

[TheTankengine]

Ya, I remember testing it out on my dad's computer after 7.04 came out. It worked very well then, so I can only imagine that it is a very solid program today.

[cypher]

here is what i would do:

get active killdisk (http://www.killdisk.com/).

make a bootdisc for windows, then copy the files for active killdisk on to it.

change your BIOS setup to boot from floppy.

boot from the floppy, and choose "minimal boot" or "boot to command prompt".

type "A:\killdisk.exe"

wipe all your data by selecting your hard drive (not the floppy), and tapping f10.

boot ubuntu from Livedisk, and activate its partitioning utility. (I think it uses QTPARTED, just type qtparted in the shell)

in this order, make a FAT32 partition, an EXT3 partition, and a LINUXSWAP partition, of the size you want.

don't install ubuntu. once you partition the drives, abort installation.

boot and install Vista from CD, you should be given a prompt about unknown drive partitions. Tell the computer to continue.

Boot and install Ubuntu from disc, it should come kernalized to install GRUB.

this should be it, but have another computer available to get help on the internet.

good luck! and screw VISTA, get XP.

[Afromonkey]

I hope this isn't off topic, it's a related issue.

I'm considering installing Ubuntu on my WinXP laptop. Thing is, it is already partitioned into a locked-in school side and a free home side. The school dictates the school partition is required, and I wouldn't know how to remove it even if i were allowed to.
So my question is, can you partition a partition, and is that wise?

thanks. :)

[b.i.o]

You could, or you could just use Wubi and not have to worry about partitions at all.

[Afromonkey]

You could, or you could just use Wubi and not have to worry about partitions at all.

I'm now on ubuntu having installed using wubi. That was easy.
I have a bit of a problem though. When i've run linux from CDs before I've had a "X.XGB Media" in my places menu, where i can get at my windows files. That's not there anymore. Is this a wubi thing, or am i missing something obvious?

Anyway thanks for the advice.

[b.i.o]

I would imagine it's something to do with Wubi, since (I believe) stuff appears in the the Media folder only if it's on a separate partition or on physically different storage media. There's probably another way to access your stuff, although not having used Wubi myself, I'm not sure what it is.

[Ptolom]

try looking for the name of the disk in "places" It's in there for me

[Afromonkey]

Ah, found it, it's in /host/

Thanks guys.

[|Erasmus|]

For some reason, the Ubuntu 8.04 installers have displayed douchebaggery of the highest degree for me as well, i haven't actually been able to get 8.04 installed onto it's own partiton from scratch yet. Wubi worked great, but i got bored of that novelty pretty soon.

Strange that Wubi didn't work properly though... maybe try checking the CD for defects (boot from it, select "check CD for defects"), that might throw something up.

Did you have any previous linux installations beforehand? 8.04 wouldn't install for me simply because i had a previously existing swap partition.. bit crappy if you ask me..

a little off-topic, but Fedora 9 was annoying me on my laptop so I installed Ubuntu 8.04 and had zero problems... Didn't mind the existing swap, or anything. :/