Gparted partition editor

geesetd

I've got an old version of mandrake linux on pc and it takes up half of my 8)gb hard disc an has done for a few years.I could never connect to the internet but have wanted for a long time to get back my full drive.It says in the mandrake manual that you just delete the linux partition but I've always been afraid to do it in case I had no computer to get online wiht then.
How safe is it to use Gparted partition to move an resize partitions? Does anyone know if the new Ubuntu 9 edition has the ability to resize partitions which weree created by another linux OS.Ideally I would like to install the New Ubuntu version on about a 3rd of the drive!

bat999

Hi
I haven't used the latest version of Ubuntu yet, but this is how things usually work:-

Boot your PC from the Ubuntu CD.
When it's loaded click on System > Administration
Then look in the menu for 'Gnome Partition Manager'.
This is the gParted that comes built into Ubuntu. It will work on any partitions no matter which Linux was used before.

Use it to remove and/or resize your partitions. You can do this because you're running from the CD drive, so you can alter things on the hard drive - it's not in use.
gParted is quite safe to use, but obviously back up important stuff first.

The first thing you've got to do is download Ubuntu and burn it to a CD.
:cool:

gaming_guy

the ubuntu CD can resize any linux partition, even Windows NTFS partitions

geesetd

Thanks for the answer .I have got the latest version of the Ubuntu cd but didnt know that the Gparted was the actual editor.I downloaded Parted magic as softpedia review siad it had gparted availalbe but i didnt realize they wanted for one to have to install another OS ,but they must be the same partition editor on both.
Only probem is now after been hopeful, I've discovered I need my XP password to run the fixmbr from the recovery console and I havnt a clue what it is as I never made a record of it 5-6 years ago when I was starting out with computers!

asininity

Why dont you install ubuntu on the partition that has the old linux distro installed and see how you get on with that, ubuntu is very user friendly and everything should work striaght away. And its better than xp.

bat999

Yes, 'Parted Magic' is gParted too, with some other bits and pieces.
But if you've already got the Ubuntu CD there's no need for you to burn a Parted Magic CD as well.
:cool:

wakandem

get fs drivers so you can see the linux drive in xp . Format the drive ntfs and then you will have 2 drives on the one. If you want one full drive i would backup and reinstall windows deleting all partitions and creating a new c drive to format and reinstall xp

http://www.fs-driver.org/

S0litaire

The fs-drivers sometimes don't work on some ext3 partitions.
It's a bit technical, but the fs-drivers don't like the gparted formatting for some reason. (well i've never gotten the fs-drivers to see ext3 partitions in my dual boot!)

geesetd

Thanks a lot guys;I stuck on Ubuntu 9 and used Ext2Fsd-0.46 and can now see Linux partition and transfer files back and 4th.So far so good.Thanks again