The question: I want to add more space to my Linux partition. I used PartitionMagic to make my Windows XP NTFS partition smaller, but could only add that space to the overall Extended Partition, not the separate Linux space. I therefore suspect that there is some way through Linux to do this. Any help would be appreciated.
Partition Magic is perfectly able to expand an ext2 partition non-destructively, but it means that you may have to shift a bunch of other existing partitions to yield the free space right next to the Linux partition you want to expand.
Conceptually quite simple, but takes for ever to actually do, and essentially dedicates the machine to Windows for the whole time.
Everything that Partition Magic can do can also be done using Linux tools, but if PM takes forever, the Linux tools will take an eternity, but you can keep a Linux partition which won't be disturbed running all the time to check your mail, etc.
The necessary tools are all in Mandrake 9.2 and on the rescue CD, and are cfdisk for creating/deleting partitions (which will involve copious rebooting - cfdisk will tell you), the various mk???fs utilities for placing empty file systems in the new empty partitions, and rsync -av <source>/ <dest>/ or cp -av to do the inter-partition copying of data for you. You must have a copious supply of free space on the disc or discs for use as temporary buffer partitions for holding partition contents while an original partition is deleted and recreated larger.
An advantage of this method is that all partitions involved are rewritten contiguously (with no gaps/fragmentation). In fact for windows partitions this is a much quicker method of defragmentation than using the Windows defrag utility.
Be very careful to note the changes in partition naming as the process proceeds. A useful tip is to use e2label to label all the partitions with what they are beforehand, so that you will recognise them in their new positions, and so minimise the risk of overwriting a partition inadvertently.
But, yes, it is possible and does work. Further, unlike PM, it enables you to use other than the ext2 and ext3 file systems.
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Ron. [Melbourne, Australia]
Use the new dalziel-1.2 Mandrake English downloader - more features than rsync-plus.
Download from: http://members.optushome.com.au/ronst/
The name 'Dalziel' is pronounced 'DL', like the 'd/l' abbreviation for 'download'.
Want to buy your Pack or Services from MandrakeSoft? Go to http://www.mandrakestore.com
