Rank: Guru
Rating: 91%, 846 votes
Unbuntu has a partition manager but you are better off using a partition manager that runs from a boot screen and can handle all the partition types such as Linux (depending on how you have this formatted), NTFS for Windows and FAT32 if you are using one.
In the past, with Linux, I found that reinstalling the software (Ubuntu) gives you the ability to resize partitions if you choose this option, but tread carefully and allow Ubuntu to perform an upgrade. As an upgrade install most of everything will be there when you are done. But, handling the partition tools in Linux is very tricky I would use the forum at Linux.org to learn more and get specific advice on your version of Ubuntu. It is all pretty hairy so making a clone backup of your drive is essential.
Lets say you have a 250 GB hard Drive now. If you cloned that disc onto a 500 GB drive your partitions will automatically resize themselves during the disc clone. How Ubuntu responds to this is in question. I believe on reboot into Ubuntu that linux will handle the new start and stop partition edges on its own without any interaction from you. But, I stongly suggest you join up at Linux.org, its still free last I knew, and ask these questions there. There are plenty of Linux users here too and you can let this question ride on the forum for a while before moving on.
It is therefore highly advisable that you clone your hard drive to another hard drive as an image backup. Then resize your partitions using a partition manager. There are many free tools that are rated High in Tech Ability that you can find starting at Majorgeeks dot com. To reiterate, backup your entire disk using a clone tool. Since this would require an entire new hard drive and since you need this for Windows. I would really suggest you purchase another hard drive, add it onto your IDE or SATA bus cables and then you have this extra space that you can allow Windows to have more and Ubuntu to have more.
The reason I'm writing all this is to advise you of the troubles and an easy path to pursue for a resolution. You will want to get up to speed on partition management, resizing and cloning. All this is well written on Wiki and that is an advisable place to start. Before you do anything, again backup your entire drive and then practice first to experiment with the tools.
Before you buy anything that is going to cost good money, software wise, try to borrow a copy of Acronis Ulitmate Boot CD, Hiren's Boot CD and get familiar with the tools on these discs and practice. When you find the one you prefer and want to own a copy, then by all means purchase one to use and suit your needs.
Bottom line: To do what you want, you will need to aquire another equal or larger hard disk to back up your current one. Two, decide if just adding another hard disk and cloning that over will solve your problems. (Probably the easiest smartest track to persue). Three borrow copies of Acronis or Hiren's and practice using these partition managers and cloning tools. This in the end will cost you quite a bit of money. In the end I'd just get another hard disk and let Windows have the space.
Get another larger hard rive about three times the size you have now, learn cloning procedures and the free tools out there to do this and clone your drive over to the new one. That will solve all your problems even though you will/may have to reinstall Ubuntu as an upgrade after (that is questionalble, I belive I always have in the past, its just been a while since I need to on my Linux Box.)
Regards,
Worldvet
Comments:
Jan 01, 2009
- Glad to hear of your success. I usually use other boot up partition managers to resize, but since the Gparted iso worked for you as a stand alone bootup program then, burn a copy and file that away for future use. I'm going to grab a copy for my own tool kit.
There are a few all around partition managers that will resize almost any OS partition. Those are good programs to have in your toolkit.
Isn't it funny how you kick yourself and wish you had bought a larger hard drive? Right now I keep looking at these 1TB and larger drives but know the 2 and 3 TB are around the corner and then there as to be some other breakthrough. I think we'll see it with SSHDs soon, they are very close the unleashing the data transfer bottle neck because the Space Program here and in other countries are all now dependent on SSHDs. I can't wait to see that technology trickle down to we users.
Good Luck. Glad to hear it all worked out for you. So many times our customers fail; way to hang in there.
Worldvet
Jan 09, 2009
- Thanks for the Helpful rating, I'd really appreciate a FixYa if you feel up to handing one out. It means a lot when I put a real effort into a problem that ultimately empowers you to obtain a solution, even when on your own. I think you can appreciate that.
And, in the end I would encourage you to get a larger hard drive and clone your old one on to that. The new one should be three times the size of your current hard drive. You can use your current one later as a backup drive.
