How to run Mint on one partition of a HDD while Windows has access to the other?

My PC: Desktop running Windows 10, has an extra & idle 3.5" HDD, SATA3, 500GB.

I hope to create 2 partitions on this HDD, one 200GB and the other 300GB, and run Cinnamon on the 200GB partition while Windows has access to the 300GB partition. Is this possible? How to establish the partitions?
Thanks.
DiaNobb

So, hopefully this means that you have given up on the concept of removing the Win drive as per your previous thread.

Mint is well documented - read it. The installer can accommodate most situations - including this - with minimal input. But it is your responsibility to check what is presented as options to you during the install.

Originally Posted by syg00 So, hopefully this means that you have given up on the concept of removing the Win drive as per your previous thread. Mint is well documented - read it. The installer can accommodate most situations - including this - with minimal input. But it is your responsibility to check what is presented as options to you during the install.

Thanks.

Still, I'll remove the C-drive prior to installing Mint.

This post is for how to use one HDD for both Linux and Windows because they need different formats of partitions.

I'll select "Erase disc and install Mint" and the disc is all in one ext4 partition. I need to know whether Windows can access to this kind of partition.

Thanks.

I'll select "Erase disc and install Mint" and the disc is all in one ext4 partition. I need to know whether Windows can access to this kind of partition.

No. Windows by default is incapable of even reading a Linux filesystem so you need to select a different option during the install or make the change after the install is completed by using a partition manager such as gparted. Mint as well as most any Linux distribution will be able to read/write to a windows filesystem. I would suggest you use Disk Management in windows, at least to format the windows data partition but you can create the partition from Mint and format it from Mint also. Less prone to problems if you use a windows tool to format a windows filesystem.

You should have other options besides the 'Erase disk..', something like a manual install option so use that. As pointed out above, Mint is very well documented and you should have no problem finding instructions.

Might consider using a free virtual machine or if you have a pro+ you can use MS virtual machines. Actually, there is a simply way to enable that.

Two possible ways of doing this:
1: Create the two partitions before installing linux mint and select something else during the partitioning stage.

2: Select use whole drive for installing linux mint, and after installing linux mint use gparted in the live iso to shrink the linux mint partition down to 200GB and create a ntfs partition in the empty space left after linux mint.

Originally Posted by yancek No. Windows by default is incapable of even reading a Linux filesystem so you need to select a different option during the install or make the change after the install is completed by using a partition manager such as gparted. Mint as well as most any Linux distribution will be able to read/write to a windows filesystem. I would suggest you use Disk Management in windows, at least to format the windows data partition but you can create the partition from Mint and format it from Mint also. Less prone to problems if you use a windows tool to format a windows filesystem. You should have other options besides the 'Erase disk..', something like a manual install option so use that. As pointed out above, Mint is very well documented and you should have no problem finding instructions.

Thanks.

"Windows by default is incapable of even reading a Linux filesystem so you need to select a different option during the install"
What different option, PLEASE?

"create the partition from Mint and format it from Mint"
Can Gparted shrink the partition where Mint is already installed, and created another partition with the kind of format which Windows can access?

Originally Posted by jefro Might consider using a free virtual machine or if you have a pro+ you can use MS virtual machines. Actually, there is a simply way to enable that.

Thanks.
Windows on my PC is a Home version unable to use its virtual machine.

Originally Posted by jefro Might consider using a free virtual machine or if you have a pro+ you can use MS virtual machines. Actually, there is a simply way to enable that.

Thanks.

"I would suggest you use Disk Management in windows, at least to format the windows data partition"
Have already done this. The HDD is entirely empty now.

This is what I intend to do:
1. Erase the disc and install Mint.
2. When install is completed, use Gparted to shrink and create another partition for Windows to read and write.

Can Gparted shrink the partition where Mint is already installed

Not while booted into the installed linuxmint, have to boot the installation media and use gparted.

Originally Posted by colorpurple21859 Two possible ways of doing this: 1: Create the two partitions before installing linux mint and select something else during the partitioning stage. 2: Select use whole drive for installing linux mint, and after installing linux mint use gparted in the live iso to shrink the linux mint partition down to 200GB and create a ntfs partition in the empty space left after linux mint.

Thanks.

"2: Select use whole drive for installing linux mint, and after installing linux mint use gparted in the live iso to shrink the linux mint partition down to 200GB and create a ntfs partition in the empty space left after linux mint.[/QUOTE]

Thanks.

"2: Select use whole drive for installing linux mint,"
Yes, this is what I am going to do.

"and after installing linux mint use gparted in the live iso"
Why in the live ISO? Why not install it and then do the partitioning?

Why not install it and then do the partitioning?

Unlike windows, gparted won't shrink a running linux system mounted partition.

Originally Posted by colorpurple21859 Unlike windows, gparted won't shrink a running linux system mounted partition.

Thanks.
I was about to do (1.) install Mint by selecting Erase disk and install Min. The disk is a 500GB SATA3 HDD. This type of installation will make the whole disk as one partition. (2.) shrink the partition with Gparted after the completion of the installation. My plan is apparently impractical since "gparted won't shrink a running linux system mounted partition."
You just saved me from a frustration.

What do you recommend that I ought to do, please?

Thanks.

Read point 2: in post #6. Then read it again until you understand it.

Gparted should be available on the Mint USB you use to install it. It will NOT be there on the installed system unless you later install it yourself so that is one obvious problem. Partition managers in Linux don't modify mounted partitions as pointed out above which I expect, is one reason they are not included in a default install much as the installer will not be available on an installed system. If you are 'using' the installed system it will obviously be mounted.

Not sure why you want the Erase disk and install option to the entire drive when you plan to have an ntfs partition on the drive. Leave free/unallocated space on the drive the size you will want for your windows data partition. Since you seem to have some familiarity with Disk Management in windows, why not create a windows partition using it?. Better to use windows tools for windows when you can. Of course, doing it from gparted 'should' also work but seems pointless to me as the windows partition you intend to create will simply be for data so doing as suggested above (using the manual install option which used to be called 'Something Else') would be simplest. Your choice.

You definitely need to read through some guides before beginning if you have not already, certainly the Mint installation guide at the link below.

https://linuxmint-installation-guide...t/install.html