Quoting Pablo Manalastas ([EMAIL PROTECTED]): > Here's the caption from > http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/ > > "ntfsprogs 1.8.0 released (2003-11-19) > Finally a stable release after a huge long wait. > Lots of new utilities (man 8 ntfsprogs) and the > ntfs gnomevfs module (man 8 libntfs-gnomevfs). > Enjoy!" > > Does this mean it is now safe to use parted to do a non-destructive > repartitioning of an ntfs partition to make space for a new linux > installation?
Er, there seems to be some confusion on this point. The ntfsprogs collection includes a command-line utility called ntfsresize, which is an excellent, fairly safe (but slightly complex) tool for Linux to non-destructively resize NTFS partitions. Graphical front-ends such as DiskDrake and QtParted can invoke it. Parted (not to be confused with Vanni Brutto's QtParted) has _not_ had ntfsresize support added to it, because Parted author Andrew Clausen hasn't had time to write the support code. In addition to ntfsresize, the ntfsprogs also include quite a number of other modules, including two separate filesystem drivers for the Linux kernel. The earlier one included experimental write-mode support that (bold) technical users can enable by editing the source code and compiling, was _not_ SMP-safe, and is no longer maintained. The newer one is SMP-safe, but doesn't yet have write code. > Or we will have to wait for the parted authors make a new release? You can wait for Parted, or use QtParted, or just plain ntfsresize. > WiLL RedHat/Fedora include ntfs-1.8.0 in their next release? When? It seems unlikely. Red Hat is rumoured to have steered clear of all ntfsprogs on account of a patent-law threat from Microsoft Corporation, but this is not confirmed. But the only immediate consequence of that is that you need a third-party RPM if you want your Red Hat/Fedora installation to have an NTFS filesystem driver. See: http://linux-ntfs.sourceforge.net/rpm/ If you just want to resize an NTFS partition prior to installing RH/Fedora, all you need is some boot media containing ntfsresize (and maybe QtParted, if you like it). There are lots of choices: http://mlf.linux.rulez.org/mlf/ezaz/ntfsresize.html -- Cheers, * Contributing Editor, Linux Gazette * Rick Moen -*- See the Linux Gazette in its new home: -*- [EMAIL PROTECTED] <http://linuxgazette.net/> -- Philippine Linux Users' Group (PLUG) Mailing List [EMAIL PROTECTED] (#PLUG @ irc.free.net.ph) Official Website: http://plug.linux.org.ph Searchable Archives: http://marc.free.net.ph . To leave, go to http://lists.q-linux.com/mailman/listinfo/plug . Are you a Linux newbie? To join the newbie list, go to http://lists.q-linux.com/mailman/listinfo/ph-linux-newbie
