Partitioning Question

[blackiecoffee]

Hello everyone! I'm a beginner Linux user who mostly got into Linux because I needed a reliable computer for work, and all I have are dinosaurs who can't run windows 10.

I've successfully installed Linux Lite 4.8 on a Fujitsu Lifebook (with 250gb HDD, and 4gb RAM), and have been using it for work and recreation for the past 2 weeks. However, when I initially installed Linux Lite (I opted to dual boot as it is my first install of any Linux OS), I only allotted 90gb to it because I thought I would have to use Windows more. Now, I find that I almost exclusively use Linux (The performance improvement is just amazing) and would like to reduce some of the memory from Windows and give it to LL. I have a basic understanding of partitioning since learning Linux has been my recent obsession but I am not knowledgeable enough to risk re-partitioning the HDD.

Thank you!

TL;DR Dual booting Windows 10 and Linux Lite: how to reduce Windows' disk size and add more to Linux.

[firenice03]

90gb isn't terrible, unless wanting to store files.. LL doesn't use too much for the OS itself - for example I have on mine 40gb to root using 40% but I do have 100 for /home..


I guess really - how did you partition the disk currently and what's the idea to make use of the new?


On mine I separated home and root, this isn't a necessity but I'm also playing with LVM's in LL ...
But you could or have a /data for example..


The other question is how did you format - I assume all are ext4... you maybe able to shrink windows (or delete it) the empty space becomes unallocated which could be used for a new file system/partition (say a "/data") or MAYBE you might be able to expand the current file systems.. If thinking of this, be ready to redo, should you typo or inadvertently select something...


And... even though 2 OS's the total number of primary partitions are still in play.. For MRB its 4

[foxcub]

If you want to resize partitions date partition download gparted, a partition manager which is very easy to use.

I also have windows 10 but I have a separate partition for ALL my work. Thus, if windows 10 goes belly up, (which it has, 3 times in as many weeks) you have all your work safe. This windows partition is also accessible from Linux; any files can be read, modified and saved there. As was suggested by firenice03, you could also have an linux ext4 partition for all you LL work.
Hope this helps.
foxcub.

[Şerban S.]

Hi!
I have an old laptop myself, a Thinkpad T400, from 2008.
Since RAM proved to be "untouchable", that is, I can only put 4 GB of RAM and the CPU is the fastest supported (T9400@2,53 GHz), the only workaround, was to put a SSD.
Nice looking but I had to rethink partitions since I was using a 1 TB HDD and the SSD has only 480 GB.

So, here is my computation:

Drive name in GParted: /dev/sda
First partition: /dev/sda1, ext4, 15360 MB, Root (/); Total = 15360 MB.
Second partition: /dev/sda2, SWAP, 3072 MB, SWAP;  Total = 18432 MB.
Third Partition: /dev/sda3, ext2, 61440 MB, Home (/home);  Total = 79872 MB = 78 GB.
Now, we need to calculate the fourth primary partition, in case you erase Windows:
I assume that you need time to decide so I'll go for the original amount of space = 90 GB = 92160 MB.
Now, assuming that you want to keep Windows, you need to check IF you have an EXTENDED partition.
If so, the name of your partitions, will be slightly different from the example above.
Usually, the Extended partition skips 1 unit when counting, so you might have something like:
/dev/sda1, NTFS, 160 GB (whatever GParted says), Windows.
/dev/sda3, EXTENDED. 90 GB.
If this is the case, I would do this:
Delete all partitions, except Windows;
SHRINK /dev/sda1 at 90 GB. That will give some more room to Linux.
Before shrinking the first partition, make sure you BACKUP everything that is important. An external HDD, would do great.
And now, after shrinking /dev/sda1, we have the following:
/dev/sda1, NTFS, 90 GB, Windows.
Unpartitioned space = 160 GB = 163840 MB.
--------
Let's move now:

Create /dev/sda2, primary, ext2, SWAP, , 3072 MB. Total free = 163840 - 3072 = 160768 MB.
Create /dev/sda3, primary, ext4, Root (/), 15360 MB. Total free = 160768 - 15360 = 145408 MB.
Create /dev/sda5, EXTENDED, 145408 MB.
Now, in the EXTENDED, create the following:
Create /dev/sda6, ext2, 61440 MB, Home (/home). Total free = 145408 - 61440 = 83968 MB.
Here, you can go like:
Create /dev/sda6, ext4, 61440 MB, Data (/Data). Total free = 83968 - 61440 = 22528 MB.
Create /dev/sda7, ext4, 22528 MB, Video (/Video). Total free = 22528 - 22528 = 0 MB.
Or, maybe you want something simpler:
Create /dev/sda6, ext4, 83968 MB, Data (/Data). Total free = 83968 - 83968 = 0 MB.
Now, after partitioning and labeling the drives, at setup, remember to set the mountpoints for /home and /Data, so that they are mounted after OS load. You'll be able to see them in your File Manager.

That's it!
Enjoy your new computer!
Best regards!

[TheDead]

I would add that in version 4 and 5. The swap partition is not a "must" anymore since a SWAP file is used.
I personnally prefer a swap partition, but I'm  "old-school"

[blackiecoffee]

Thank you to everyone who replied! Will be trying this on the weekend.

[blackiecoffee]

Hi!
I have an old laptop myself, a Thinkpad T400, from 2008.
Since RAM proved to be "untouchable", that is, I can only put 4 GB of RAM and the CPU is the fastest supported (T9400@2,53 GHz), the only workaround, was to put a SSD.
Nice looking but I had to rethink partitions since I was using a 1 TB HDD and the SSD has only 480 GB.

So, here is my computation:

Drive name in GParted: /dev/sda
First partition: /dev/sda1, ext4, 15360 MB, Root (/); Total = 15360 MB.
Second partition: /dev/sda2, SWAP, 3072 MB, SWAP;  Total = 18432 MB.
Third Partition: /dev/sda3, ext2, 61440 MB, Home (/home);  Total = 79872 MB = 78 GB.
Now, we need to calculate the fourth primary partition, in case you erase Windows:
I assume that you need time to decide so I'll go for the original amount of space = 90 GB = 92160 MB.
Now, assuming that you want to keep Windows, you need to check IF you have an EXTENDED partition.
If so, the name of your partitions, will be slightly different from the example above.
Usually, the Extended partition skips 1 unit when counting, so you might have something like:
/dev/sda1, NTFS, 160 GB (whatever GParted says), Windows.
/dev/sda3, EXTENDED. 90 GB.
If this is the case, I would do this:
Delete all partitions, except Windows;
SHRINK /dev/sda1 at 90 GB. That will give some more room to Linux.
Before shrinking the first partition, make sure you BACKUP everything that is important. An external HDD, would do great.
And now, after shrinking /dev/sda1, we have the following:
/dev/sda1, NTFS, 90 GB, Windows.
Unpartitioned space = 160 GB = 163840 MB.
--------
Let's move now:

Create /dev/sda2, primary, ext2, SWAP, , 3072 MB. Total free = 163840 - 3072 = 160768 MB.
Create /dev/sda3, primary, ext4, Root (/), 15360 MB. Total free = 160768 - 15360 = 145408 MB.
Create /dev/sda5, EXTENDED, 145408 MB.
Now, in the EXTENDED, create the following:
Create /dev/sda6, ext2, 61440 MB, Home (/home). Total free = 145408 - 61440 = 83968 MB.
Here, you can go like:
Create /dev/sda6, ext4, 61440 MB, Data (/Data). Total free = 83968 - 61440 = 22528 MB.
Create /dev/sda7, ext4, 22528 MB, Video (/Video). Total free = 22528 - 22528 = 0 MB.
Or, maybe you want something simpler:
Create /dev/sda6, ext4, 83968 MB, Data (/Data). Total free = 83968 - 83968 = 0 MB.
Now, after partitioning and labeling the drives, at setup, remember to set the mountpoints for /home and /Data, so that they are mounted after OS load. You'll be able to see them in your File Manager.

That's it!
Enjoy your new computer!
Best regards!

Nice a thinkdpad! I'm a big fan of thinkpads since temporarily using one for work.

Thanks for this, will definitely try this over the weekend.