Help with cfdisk for dual boot

gawain · 12-27-2006, 11:30 AM

Hi there

I've got dapper on my PC. Now I'd like to install Slackware and have the both of them in dual boot
I typed fdisk -lu form terminal and got the following message:

Quote:

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 63 74943224 37471581 83 Linux
/dev/hda2 74943225 78172289 1614532+ 5 Extended
/dev/hda5 74943288 78172289 1614501 82 Linux swap / Solaris

I know I have to make room for the new distro, but I can't understand how I am supposed to go on.
I've seen cfdisk, but at the momento I can't write anything with it. Maybe I have to do other operation first.

Thanks for any hint.

pixellany · 12-28-2006, 06:35 AM

That form of fdisk does not tell us the total size of the drive, but I'm guessing it is 40GB--and it is full.

You will need to re-size the main Linux partition to make room. This must be done from another OS--eg by using a Knoppix CD with QTParted, or the GParted bootable CD.

Be sure to back up any important files first.

gawain · 12-28-2006, 07:47 AM

Thanks a bunch for replying.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixellany

That form of fdisk does not tell us the total size of the drive, but I'm guessing it is 40GB--and it is full.

Yes, that's right: it's 38GB, but oly 3GB are written

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixellany

You will need to re-size the main Linux partition to make room. This must be done from another OS--eg by using a Knoppix CD with QTParted, or the GParted bootable CD.

OK. I've downloaded GParted bootable CD (so what' s the purpose on having cfdisk?) and it looks great; so now, all what I need is to resize the following partition

Quote:

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 63 74943224 37471581 83 Linux

and I'll have two partitions, let's say hda1 and hda3: I can resize them to 17GB each.
Do I need a new swap area for the new partition which will be occupied by the new OS?

Any suggestions and comments are welcome. Thanks