[Solved] How to create extended partition while kping data

[Roland]

Trying to install LinuxMint (Dual boot) on my brand new PackardBell with W7 pre-installed. W7 took all of the 1 TB disk, and I had a hard time in shrinking the partitions (hours) and restarting W7 with the recoveryDVD I burned before.

Now I am stuck: Mint installation says there is no 'usable' diskspace (600MB unused!), and I started Gparted. Gparted says: It is not possible to create more than 4 primary partitions: create an extendend partition.
How do I do that in a non-destructive way?

/dev/sda1 ntfs PQSERVICE (18GB)
/dev/sda2 ntfs SYSTEM RESERVED (100GB)
/dev/sda3 ntfs Pachard Bell (96GB)
/dev/sda4 ntfs DATA (200GB)

and 615GB unused.
Any help will be appreciated.

[viking777]

I would be tempted to answer that you right click on the empty space and select New followed by Extended partition, but that seems so obvious that I can't believe you haven't tried it. Does that not work?

As you are only dealing with empty space here there is no way you can damage anything.

[remoulder]

Your PQService partition seems a little large, it's usually about 2GB. Also what's on the PackardBell partition, is this your Windows system? In order to create an extended partition, you are going to have to lose one of the existing primary ones as Windows only allows max 4 major partitions per drive. To do this you are going to have to backup your Data partition assuming it is only data, delete the existing partition, create an extended partition on the free space, create a new Data partition within the extended one and restore your backup. Note however that this will affect your drive letters in Windows, though this can be re-mapped. Once you have the extended partition you should be able to install mint in any free space left.

[Roland]

I would be tempted to answer that you right click on the empty space and select New followed by Extended partition, but that seems so obvious that I can't believe you haven't tried it. Does that not work?

No, it doesn't work: it gives the warning about the extended partition.

I could install W7 from scratch, but I only have 'recovery DVDs' so I do not think that will work.

[Roland]

Your PQService partition seems a little large, it's usually about 2GB. Also what's on the PackardBell partition, is this your Windows system? In order to create an extended partition, you are going to have to lose one of the existing primary ones as Windows only allows max 4 major partitions per drive. To do this you are going to have to backup your Data partition assuming it is only data, delete the existing partition, create an extended partition on the free space, create a new Data partition within the extended one and restore your backup. Note however that this will affect your drive letters in Windows, though this can be re-mapped. Once you have the extended partition you should be able to install mint in any free space left.

Yes, that makes sense! Should be no problem as I do not have yet data (brand new PC); however, I will backup anyway.
I am not familiar with W7 (but knew XP very good); any place in W7 where I can tell the system to store on C: and not on D: ?

[ThistleWeb]

It looks like Packard Bell are playing funny buggers in the way they've set up the partitions. Usually Windows OEM installs come as one primary for the Windows OS itself including your data, and one recovery partition (both Primary). Windows 7 also adds a bootloader partition of a few 100mb into the mix, also a primary. The recovery partition only needs about 20gb, so I'd be asking what the partitions are for and why they're so big.

I'd also be tempted to wipe the lot and install from scratch too, that way you'll only use 2 Primary partitions, leaving the rest for multiple Linux distros if you like. You'll need a proper installation disc for Windows which they never give you.

We don't discuss illegal downloads around here, but for things like this I'd have no problem in finding a disc matching your Windows edition, download and install it with the product key on your sticker attached to your PC.

[Roland]

Your PQService partition seems a little large, it's usually about 2GB. Also what's on the PackardBell partition, is this your Windows system? In order to create an extended partition, you are going to have to lose one of the existing primary ones as Windows only allows max 4 major partitions per drive. To do this you are going to have to backup your Data partition assuming it is only data, delete the existing partition, create an extended partition on the free space, create a new Data partition within the extended one and restore your backup. Note however that this will affect your drive letters in Windows, though this can be re-mapped. Once you have the extended partition you should be able to install mint in any free space left.

Yes, that makes sense! Should be no problem as I do not have yet data (brand new PC); however, I will backup anyway.
I am not familiar with W7 (but knew XP very good); any place in W7 where I can tell the system to store on C: and not on D: ?

It worked. Installing Mint now

We don't discuss illegal downloads around here, but for things like this I'd have no problem in finding a disc matching your Windows edition, download and install it with the product key on your sticker attached to your PC.
I fully agree.
Thanks