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Just to make sure that I'm not a moron

A

AtlantaBob

Golden Member
I think I know the answer to this, but I figure that I'll check, in case some one else can find a way around this problem.

I've got a PC (Shuttle SK41G) with a 80 GB WD HDD running Win XP (Home) all on one partition. I want to install a version of Linux on the machine for some other work that I'm doing.

Problem is, I don't want to wipe the disk with format, fdisk, etc. -- a.) because I've spent time getting XP set up the way I like it, and b.) I've already activated enough times (entirely legally, btw) that I now have to call MS for an activation code. I'd rather avoid doing that again if possible.

I also have a USB 2.0 80 GB WD drive. Is there any way that I can copy the existing info to the external HDD, wipe the internal HDD clean, and then restore the partition (only about 20 GB full) from the external one? Or does this require me to shell out for Partition Magic or some such? Or, does anyone have a better idea?

Also, (Mods, please edit this out and let me know if this is improper; I don't think it is, but, I know we're touchy about these things.) If I do decide to wipe the disk, can I use Magical Jellybean to get the new XP key, and then use that when I'm reinstalling to avoid having to call India and affirm that I'm only using XP on one computer?

If I do this, what's the best way to preserve my settings? Use the "File and Settings Upgrade Wizzard?" (Or whatever it's called?)

Thanks in advance.

 
Not quite sure what your aiming at..

So you just want to make enough space for the Linux install, but it's all taken up in one WinXP partition?

Partition magic will work to resize partitions.Also if you boot up with Knoppix they include a utility called qtparted that can resize partitions. Just be sure to backup important stuff, first, because either if you use partition magic or qtparted resizing partitions is inherently somewhat dangerous.

Then once you have space, you install Linux. It should detect and setup the ability to boot into Windows automagicly using the Linux bootloader. If it doesn't then you can edit the config files of the bootloader manually and set it up.

As long as you don't wipe the disk, or allow the Linux installer to format the Windows XP install (it shouldn't want to) you can always restore your Windows install.

Just be sure that you can use the Windows XP install cd to access the recovery console, from there you can restore the Windows NTLDR bootloader over the Linux bootloader incase something happens or you decide to get rid of Linux. The command from the recovery console is fixmbr.

Just make sure that you have all your important stuff burned to cd or dvd, just incase.
 
Sorry drag,

You're right, I essentially want to resize a single 80 NFTS GB (only 20 GB full) partition to 40 GB NFTS and 40 GB (Linux). Thanks for the info on the qrparted utility. I suppose this takes care of defragmenting the files on the disk before resizing the partition to make sure that everything works later? Or should I go ahead and defrag the disk before running the utility?

Thanks again.
 
I figure you should defrag first. I don't think that the qtparted will do any more then it has to in order to shrink the partition. 🙂
 
What about if you already have a partitioned disc with XP Pro on one partition? I'm also looking to install linux on an older box, but already have a partition that has nothing on it.

Any distro's that are recommended for learning linux with the eventual goal of running it as a web server?
 
dev0lution -- in that case, you're smarter than I was 🙂 Good luck finding a distro, wish I could help.

drag (and anyone else) -- good idea, so I tried to defrag the disk, but even after completely defragging it, files are still spread out over the disk (that is, in the areas where I'd really like to make the new partition). Any ideas?

 
I think that won't be a problem. As long as you have room, then the program will simply move the information out of the way.


devolution --

Sure that will work. You'd have to delete that partition and then use the space to setup linux because minimally Linux needs 2 partitioins, a root partition and a swap partition. The swap partition only needs to be a gig or two big, it's used for when you run out of main memory space. Like the swap file in windows.

Also linux uses different filing systems then NTFS, so minimally you'd have to format it anyways.

For a linux distro?

Usually people try out several before settingling on one that they like. They are like different personalities of the same OS... one is not that much more or less capable then anything else, but they do appeal to different sensibilities.

I suggest Ubuntu, or if you want to jump into the deep end of the pool with no waders: Debian. Although Windows users have a hard time adjusting to debian because it's so different.

Also Fedora is a good choice. Suse and Mandrake are popular ones. Search thru the forums and you'll see many threads discussing this stuff.
 
If we were talking about a FAT32 partition, I would tell you to run FIPS. But we're not. Oh well.

Maybe if you image the internal hard drive onto the external hard drive (use a live-boot distro and dd), you can install Linux, create a FAT32 partition on the rest of the drive, mount the external drive, copy the files, reinstall NTLDR via the recovery console on the Windows setup disk, and pray it works...
 
Went with a eval copy of SUSE Enterprise Server 9 for kicks, since I had the demo kit laying around. So far so good. Installed a couple apps and got all the hw running ok - so far so good. It'll take some getting used to, but what the hell.....

 
drag -

That's what I thought was going to happen, but it didn't seem to work.

The files are, indeed, not fragmented anymore, but they're also not all squeezed togther at the front of the disk. Rather, there are little clusters of them all over the disk.

Is there a switch or a way to force XP to consolidate the files into one section of the disk?
 
I experimented with Suse Linux and I think Suse has a Partition resizer in it. There is always a danger when you use something like this that it may not work so if you can back up your files in Windows first.

You should probably Defrag right before doing this.
 
Originally posted by: AtlantaBob
drag -

That's what I thought was going to happen, but it didn't seem to work.

The files are, indeed, not fragmented anymore, but they're also not all squeezed togther at the front of the disk. Rather, there are little clusters of them all over the disk.

Is there a switch or a way to force XP to consolidate the files into one section of the disk?
Click to expand...

Na when I said 'the program' I ment qtparted or partition magic would move the files.

Always defrag seems to sticks files at the end of the partition.. it has to do with performance or something like that. Not sure why it does that.
 
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