How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
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How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
Long story short, I installed Tessa on top of an already partitioned Windows 10 install, whereby I had separate my data out into an NTFS (sda5) partition that I share between both systems. Eventually, I will remove Windows, but good to have for now. Mint is installed on sda6 and sda7.
I regularly need to prune sda6 and would like to just steal some space from sda5 for it. When I tried to do this in GParted, it complained.
Short of nuking the whole thing, what's a strategy to add space to sda6?
I regularly need to prune sda6 and would like to just steal some space from sda5 for it. When I tried to do this in GParted, it complained.
Short of nuking the whole thing, what's a strategy to add space to sda6?
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Re: How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
hi Kendoori.
If you haven't already, then boot into LM live session to make this happen because you will need to dismount any drive/partition you want to resize.
and from live session use gparted as you were attempting (eg resize big sda5 down a couple hundred GB then drag sda6 back towards sda5 to reclaim that free space. I'd leave sda5 with an amount free space on the resized partition equal to 20% of what is currently used, minimum. I don't foresee issues with less free space left behind, but do recall MS complains alot when storage space goes below 20% or so...
otherwise:
If you haven't already, then boot into LM live session to make this happen because you will need to dismount any drive/partition you want to resize.
and from live session use gparted as you were attempting (eg resize big sda5 down a couple hundred GB then drag sda6 back towards sda5 to reclaim that free space. I'd leave sda5 with an amount free space on the resized partition equal to 20% of what is currently used, minimum. I don't foresee issues with less free space left behind, but do recall MS complains alot when storage space goes below 20% or so...
otherwise:
I'm a big fan of that nuke everything option too
Re: How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
So if you were to nuke it, what's safest way to preserve everything? I have a big external drive and I could Clonezilla the partitions to it (I've used that plenty before)?I'm a big fan of that nuke everything option too
Re: How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
I was being a bit cheeky saying that. Doing backups, even clonezilla everything, is truly a first step when considering monkeying with partitions and drives at that level, for sure...
Otherwise it really it depends on what you have, what you use and what you want to keep. and as long as you want to keep windows on the system then avoid nuking everything (unless reinstall Windows and Linux is desired in a new dualboot setup, if so reinstall windows first because it is a picky PITA that will do it's best to overwrite any and all "foreign" (meaning anything not Windows, lol) bootload instructions.
Me? I'd nuke the whole of it (after store personal files somewhere off disks involved), and just give the whole mess to Linux to manage...
and for persisting windows needs run a free legal copy of Win7 in virtualbox instead. (I do confess, I still have one older desktop dualboot win7&LM19.1 Mate that I need to remove win7 from that equation because I have finally ventured into VM land and following this guide here: How to install a free legal Windows in VirtualBox which I now run on my main driver (laptop) when needed and have no need, nor desire, to keep windows dualboot on the desktop any longer.
Hope this helps~
Re: How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
Intrigued by that, when I dumped dual boot (1-2 years ago) I had to go out and buy a copy of win7 to run inside virtualbox.free legal copy of Win7
Thinkcentre M720Q - LM21.3 cinnamon, 4 x T430 - LM21.3 cinnamon, Homebrew desktop i5-8400+GTX1080 Cinnamon 19.0
Re: How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
I bought my Thinkpad X230 with Windows 7. I was able to use the license key in Virtualbox with no issue.
Re: How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
Pjotr's guide (linked above) on obtaining the free/legal version that comes from Windows (vms resources). You can opt to get win10 there as well but it is limited in longevity of use. Win7 will give extensions/reactivations to allow it up to 18 months, versus 90 days (which 8 and 10 are locked to no reactivations, so new every 90 days in effect)
https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/m ... tools/vms/
this is my plan to use my desktop valid license to activate win7 vb once I get that dualboot system redone. Thanks for mention it- I need magicjellybean finder iirc to get that license copied down!
Edit to add quoted responses and a bit more info.
Re: How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
I have found that OEM type Windows licenses like those provided by Lenovo often aren't checked.
[SOLVED] Re: How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
@redlined I did as you suggested, and in spite of the ominous warning regarding what might happen if I modify the partition, everything booted fine after the adjustments. I added 30 GB and to root and I'm sure that will cover me.
Re: How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
very cool, thanks for return report. +30 to root is way plenty, to me 50GB / with separate /home is forever size. leaving /home at 20GB will feel the next space pinch, imo, even assuming your personal files all store in GDrive/sda5 by default.
But you've likely got good time before that concerns you. and by month 6 of good LM experience you'll be looking at remove the virus (aka- windows, sic tm;) is my bet Last month I changed up how I do backups and did a week long test run with installing LM a variety of ways, restoring backups, selective restores, even let LM erase and install just to get a good efi experience under belt and ended my testing with everything under / (root), including no separate /home partition (which I'm a big fan of still). I did separate my personal file storage again though, and after a couple weeks of installing packages and compile/building a few I am still under 25GB (total system, minus personal files only).
all that to say, I'm glad it worked as it may come in handy again for you in the future if you need more /home space but haven't gotten to the
Linux remove windows --purge
stage yet Re: How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
@redlined this is my 2nd time around this track. I lived w/o Windows on my drive for 7 years, but eventually caved because of business needs and actually went complete back in the other direction. The absolute good news is sh*t that didn't use to work (e.g. web conferencing) and hardware (displaylink) actually works. A lot of my life is in the cloud, so it doesn't matter too much the way it used. I won't do it, but I'm almost a candidate for a high-end Chromebook.
I remember trying out some convoluted distro (don't remember which one) in 2003 and was completely flummoxed on where to even start. Obviously, that's no longer the case
I remember trying out some convoluted distro (don't remember which one) in 2003 and was completely flummoxed on where to even start. Obviously, that's no longer the case
Re: How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
hi Kendoori,Kendoori wrote: ⤴Wed Feb 20, 2019 11:27 am @redlined this is my 2nd time around this track. I lived w/o Windows on my drive for 7 years, but eventually caved because of business needs and actually went complete back in the other direction. The absolute good news is sh*t that didn't use to work (e.g. web conferencing) and hardware (displaylink) actually works. A lot of my life is in the cloud, so it doesn't matter too much the way it used. I won't do it, but I'm almost a candidate for a high-end Chromebook.
I remember trying out some convoluted distro (don't remember which one) in 2003 and was completely flummoxed on where to even start. Obviously, that's no longer the case
I generally try not assume much in life, even when suggest something in forum and I see 10 year old profile date for poster but really have no clue experience tied to such. If I sounded demeaning or belittling in any manner during this or another thread we have engaged in then I do apologize for such, it is not my intent rather my naive approach in trying to shake something loose that may help make progress or resolve issue with shotgun blast before my BFR comes out.
Otherwise, my initial attempts at Linux over the past couple decades all left me "scared and scarred" I did not last long in my various command-line-challenged states. Now, what seems a very nice and recent trend has made significant changes to Linux in general and many distros developed to actually be kind(er) and (more) considerate to the new/clueless user and it is a powerful full featured and polished desktop environment (one I can actually start wrapping my head around, and enjoy, even with 'every day is a new day' sort of injury related memory issues
Re: How to expand space for root on already partitioned drive?
@redlined No worries, and no offense taken. In spite of the dated phpBB, these forums serve as a great community with loads of great give and take. Your help on this one is much appreciated.