[wplug] Hard Drive Partitions - Windows 7 NetBook

[Greg Simkins]

Thanks Vance!  That is exactly what I needed!  I have Windows 7 and ubuntu 9.10 all up and running now on my Toshiba NetBook with shared access to the sda6 Storage partition.   

Of course I had to blow away the ubuntu I had previously installed, but I had plenty more bits where they came from.  :)   (that is my bootable 2GB usb thumb drive with ubuntu 9.10). 

One point of curiosity:  When I created the extended partition using GParted, it reserved 2-1/2 GB of unallocated space that I simply could not stuff into sda5 or sda6.  Perhaps it is needed for some overhead function.  

Now, I need to get a shared email store that I can access from either side.  I think Thunderbird will support that OK.  

The update function (Synaptic) in ubuntu 9.10 offered to replace my GRUB with a new one.  I chickened out on that one.  

Also, the ubuntu seems to come up slowly.  Perhaps I need to stuff another GB or Ram into this machine.  

Greg



On Nov 26, 2009, at 1:42 PM, Vance Kochenderfer wrote:

> The four-partition limit is probably more IBM's fault than
> Microsoft's, as it comes from the PC BIOS.
> 
> It's almost turkey time, so just a brief overview:
> 
> You can designate one (or more?) of the four primary partitions
> (/dev/sda{1,2,3,4}) as an "extended" partition.  This partition is
> used as a container for one or more "logical" partitions
> (/dev/sda{5,6,7...}).
> 
> A good approach is probably to make /dev/sda4 an extended
> partition, then create logical partitions within it for Ubuntu
> and the "storage" area.
> 
> Booting Linux (using GRUB or LILO) from a logical partition works
> just fine.  I'm uncertain if Windows can handle booting from or
> having its system files on a logical partition, so I'd recommend
> keeping it on a primary partition.  Same thing goes for the
> recovery partition.
> 
> I think Windows should have no problem recognizing the "storage"
> area being on a logical partition.
> 
> I have had excellent success using GParted to move and resize
> partitions containing data.  I haven't used it on NTFS-formatted
> partitions, but my understanding is that even those are well
> supported these days.
> 
> Vance Kochenderfer        |  "Get me out of these ropes and into a
> vkochend at nyx.net          |   good belt of Scotch"    -Nick Danger
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