[nflug] Resizing Windows and Linux partitions on a dual boot notebook

[John G. Boice]

Joe wrote:
> I'm just getting used to XP.  I thought I gave it plenty of disk space
> to play with, but it promptly filled up 25GB of my 100GB drive.  I need
> to give it some space (probably another 15GB) from my Linux partition
> (the rest of the drive).
>
> I think what I need to do is boot up a Linux livecd and use QTParted and
> ntfsresize to fix things, but this is my primary computer with
> everything on it and I need to get it right the first try.
>
> I have an old knoppix liveCD (3.1 something) and a DSL liveCD which
> isn't very current either.  Are they good enough, or do I need to get
> something newer?
>
> Can someone point me to or give me clear step-by-step instructions on
> how to do this?
>
> I'm on kubuntu dapper on a relatively new notebook pc.
>
>
> TIA
>
> Joe
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>
>   
Hi, Joe.

IMHO, the way to go is the GParted LiveCD
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=115843&package_id=173828

Less than 50MB for the ISO: burn to a CD and you'll have the best
partitioning tool no money can buy!

I can point you to a good vid of how to install Linux that has a section
on using QParted:
http://www.tomlinux.ca/

Here is a web-page guide on how to install Mepis linux which has a
section on using QParted. It works somewhat similarly to GParted, but
not as well as GParted  This guide is very thorough:
http://www.mepisguides.com/Mepis-6/Install/resize/Mepis-Install-Resize.html

Here is the web-page documentation to using  GParted, using screenshots:
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/larry/livecd/main/livecd.htm


As a question though --How long did it take to get to using 25GB with
WinXP?   That seems like a lot.  WinXP is very sloppy and will fill most
any space if you let it. Like dandelions or Kudzu or Japanese knotweed! 
There are ways of setting things up with a few partitions to keep it
from dying in it's own manure after a year. Say so, if you want more
info on my ideas in this regard.

Example: I have XP on my dual-boot Toshiba Satellite 80GB hard disk in
hda1 @ 11GB, with hda2 a 10 GB ntfs partition to store files XP
generates such as  downloads, save web pages and other documents, pix, 
etc. Keep data & OS separate when possible, y'know?   Resist the poor
design of keeping things in My Documents on C:  

 Then I have a 2GB ntfs partition on hda3 for the windows "virtual
memory" or "page-file."  Like a linux-swap partition. Keeping it off C:
means less fragmentation, and easier defragmentation of the other 2
partitions. 

Partitions hda 5 - hda12 are for Linux.

Hope the above links help!

--John

.
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