HELP: Partitions

Q1,2 I dunno.
Q3 Edit /etc/fstab, find the drive in question, add ",noauto" after the existing options (probably now "defaults") for the drive. It will no longer will be automounted. You can still mount it manually via command line or maybe nautilus (menu: Places->Computer)

Q4,5 Need information - why is /dev/hdb1 locked? Is it mounted? What does mount command say?

Future plans: you'll have to name the /home copy something else, otherwise conflicts with current /home. You can put swap on either or both drives. Gparted should allow you to set all that up once you can remove hdb1.

Hello,

/dev/hdb1 * 1 4678 37576003+ 83 Linux (I thought I had changed that "boot" sector. Oh well!

this partition is still registered as bootable --> see * ; please paste a copy of menu.1st uncommented contents here. hdb remained in the same state (with a functional shaky install) as it was prior to the new/latest install because it was disconnected hardwarewise at the latest install. after connecting it to the system grub or win (most likely grub) found the new drive and locked it because it found a redundant install.

misterious partition --> hard to say; if I may make a comment, please don't take hard what follows --> now you have salvaged your data and hopefully you have it on some CD/DVD. I honestly expected this to happen following a hardware (hdb) disconnect (with linux installed on it) - new win/linux install on hda - connect hdb back to the system. these procedures ALWAYS create unpredictable behavior; you're lucky that these 'misterious partition' and locked partition came to light now than later - you said ....'First off, everything is working just fine'... well, I can tell you here and now that these things will haunt you, they have the potential to 'hit hard' your system when least expected; its a 'brew' of things that I personally do not want on my system.

As I recommended in Q14256, do yourself a favour and get 'the clean slate' state of your HD's (wipe all data highly recommended), install win first and let it have mbr to itself then install dapper and set grub on / then restore your data. I guarantee that you'll end up with a healthy rock solid system.

Keep me posted.

peter b

Hi Ergosys,

  Thanks for responding to Q3.

  See Peter b's comments above.
  I have to buy a couple of CD/DVD's and do some backing up. Then "wipe" all data from both drives.
  See Q14256 for the history of my problem ( you popped in there too)
  I agree with peter that it's best to do it now or there is a good chance I'll be haunted with this in the future.

Hi Peter,

  Yes, you are right. I thought I had changed that hdb's boot status, I was wrong.
  So this afternoon I'm going to get some CD/DVD's and backup /home and start all over again.

  1. I'll use Windows install to clean the 80Gig ....
  20GB for Windows
  The remainder - logical drive for Ubuntu
      ??GB - /
       1GB - swap
  2. Use Windows to repartition the 40GB (logical)
  3. Install Ubunto to the above partitions on -hda-

  That should do the trick I think.
  Glad I caught this before the 6.10 - 7.04 upgrades.
  It'll save time.

  I'll NOT marked this solved just yet.

  Bruce Milmine

Bruce,

 --> the procedures that you employed to sort out your problems are, well .... procedures described on a previuos post on this forum as you mentioned; please understand, I can not under any circumstances criticize or express any opinion about them because I was not party in any way shape or form in solving that problem out; any opinion and solution expressed on the forum is, I consider, the sole responsibility of the author and whoever follows and/or implements, absolutely freely with no constrains of any kind, such recommendations is responsible of the outcome. I'm not rejoicing at all that your initial problem is not solved; I just expressed my way of solving your problem.

So, hopefully, this second time around, you'll have finally what you want. Just a final suggestion after reading the above, install win first on its pri partition then create the extended partition that I understand you'd like to be dedicated to linux/ubuntu; create on it logical partitions --> at a minimum 2 --> one for / and the second one swap; if you want you can create other logical part for /home , /usr etc; now, their sizes, if you elect only two partitions alternative then 30GB for / and 1GB for swap is more than sufficient -that would make a total of 51GB used for win+ubuntu and there is approx 30GB FREE SPACE for a future release of ununtu install. if you elect separate part for /home etc 20GB would be more than enough for / and 10GB for /home. please see your extended part as a 'loaf of bread' that you create 'cut' logical partition 'slices' to install 'feed' ubuntu and the FREE SPACE left as the remainder of the 'loaf' to install 'feed' other ubuntu distros. leave that FREE SPACE there until you need it. and, please try to use from here on the alternate CD's -they give you full control of installs and NEVER install grub on mbr but ALWAYS on / of respective install as I said previously.

as far as hdb goes I'd recommend to think a scheme similar to hda but have 1-3 pri partitions of whatever size is convenient to you and if you wish have the fourth part extended with logical drives on it, that's entirely up to you; personally, I don't see the use of an extended part on basically a backup-data HD; this 4th part can very well be a pri part.

Best of luck!

peter b

Hi Peter,

   While the method I chose may not be the best method, my main concern
was getting at my emails and personal "folders". My wife was concerned
about the stuff she has save over the years as well.

   That done, I now have "everything" (from /bruloo) saved to a DVD.
1.5G is a lot to loose.

   The programs you suggested are on the top of the list to get once
things are stabalized.

   I have already partitioned the 40G drive with a 40G ext3 partition in
preparation of the next step.

   Since 6.06 is working well, I'm going slow for the moment and will do
another DVD copy of my files "just" before I implament any further changes.

   I am giving "very" serious consideration to getting "the alternate CD"
as you suggested. But my concern is with the lack of knowledge of the
command line commands. Is it difficult? Remember I am still a new linux
user and not "totally" comfortable (read: knowledgable) with the commands
yet.

   You also mentioned "to install 'feed' other ubuntu distros". Why
would I want two ubuntu distros? I'm just a normal run of the mill home
user. My BBS SysOp day's are over, my webmaster days are over and even
building my own computer days are over.

   I have a struggle going on inside at the moment:

   I have NO intention of building up windows other then to get the
security upgrades and make sure it is available if I need help from my
ISP. If they supported Linux, it would be GONE. I see W-2K on the 20G
partition and only using 1.8G of space so why not change that to 10G when
the time comes. Fully operational with all the programs I was using it
clocked it at 23G, 10 should be plenty.
   I'll put Ubuntu on the remaining 70G and use the 40G for three things:
 1. /swap {1G}(for Ubuntu - if it will speed things up)
 2. /temp [5-10G} for Ubuntu - to help keep the 80G cleaner
 3. and 5G (since a DVD holds 4.7G) - {this is where a logical partition
would come in} a personal partition to store stuff in seperate "folders"
instead of partitions - keeping some of the "loaf" as you put it avaiable
for future use.
   I haven't figured out yet how to get the /swap and /temp folders to
the 40G if I'm installing to the 80G drive.

   Any thoughts?

Bruce Milmine

peter b wrote:
> Your question #14400 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/14400
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> peter b proposed the following answer:
> Bruce,
>
> --> the procedures that you employed to sort out your problems are,
> well .... procedures described on a previuos post on this forum as you
> mentioned; please understand, I can not under any circumstances
> criticize or express any opinion about them because I was not party in
> any way shape or form in solving that problem out; any opinion and
> solution expressed on the forum is, I consider, the sole responsibility
> of the author and whoever follows and/or implements, absolutely freely
> with no constrains of any kind, such recommendations is responsible of
> the outcome. I'm not rejoicing at all that your initial problem is not
> solved; I just expressed my way of solving your problem.
>
> So, hopefully, this second time around, you'll have finally what you
> want. Just a final suggestion after reading the above, install win first
> on its pri partition then create the extended partition that I
> understand you'd like to be dedicated to linux/ubuntu; create on it
> logical partitions --> at a minimum 2 --> one for / and the second one
> swap; if you want you can create other logical part for /home , /usr
> etc; now, their sizes, if you elect only two partitions alternative then
> 30GB for / and 1GB for swap is more than sufficient -that would make a
> total of 51GB used for win+ubuntu and there is approx 30GB FREE SPACE
> for a future release of ununtu install. if you elect separate part for
> /home etc 20GB would be more than enough for / and 10GB for /home.
> please see your extended part as a 'loaf of bread' that you create 'cut'
> logical partition 'slices' to install 'feed' ubuntu and the FREE SPACE
> left as the remainder of the 'loaf' to install 'feed' other ubuntu
> distros. leave that FREE SPACE there until you need it. and, please try
> to use from here on the alternate CD's -they give you full control of
> installs and NEVER install grub on mbr but ALWAYS on / of respective
> install as I said previously.
>
> as far as hdb goes I'd recommend to think a scheme similar to hda but
> have 1-3 pri partitions of whatever size is convenient to you and if you
> wish have the fourth part extended with logical drives on it, that's
> entirely up to you; personally, I don't see the use of an extended part
> on basically a backup-data HD; this 4th part can very well be a pri
> part.
>
> Best of luck!
>
> peter b
>

Bruce,

Several things

- first, it is entirely up to you how big the win part you'd like it to be; to me from what you say 10GB sounds OK
- second, if you like to dedicate the remainder of sda to ONE distro of ubuntu or approx 70GB that's fine also; if that scenario is what you want then you DO NOT NEED to get into the EXTENDED partition affair -( for you it appears a little more complicated setup). Just three pri partitions on sda would do nicely.
- third, if you consider BootitNG from terabyteunlimited then get it now and it'll install itself on the fourth partition of sda and everything will be just perfect.
- fourth. you do not need to create on sdb another SWAP partition; the one on sda is good and it'll do its job just fine - there is no gain to have another swap on sdb,
- fifth, wise decision --> try your best to get the alternate iso CD, it'll give you total control over the install,
- sixth, DO NOT WORRY, the partitioner under alternate CD install is nothing to be afraid of -->. it's semi-graphically driven and requires only good sense to complete; obviously you'd have to get a little familiar with it but even that WILL NOT HURT anything - if you're not sure about something just abort the install BEFORE IT'LL ASK YOU THAT YOU WANT TO PROCEED WRITING TO DISK then GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SCREENS and REDO WHAT YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH; THIS IS FOR MANUAL PARTITION PROCEDURE - the other procedures will bulldoze ahead WITHOUT ANY WARNING and continue install
- seven, on sdb I understand that you'd like to have data from various folders on on sda / backedup; just create folders on 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 part and save the chosen data with mondo that allows you to do that; alternatively, if you install BootitNG then you can v easily create images of whole partitions of hda and paste them on FILES on sdb on whatever part you wish. call the part on sdb anything you wish -stay away from names common to names on the file system in / on sda.

Best of luck!

peter b

Hi Pete,
  Getting to be like old friends here. :)

  1. Yea, I don't think W2K without additional software (and not being used) needs more then that.
  2. W2K was alone with a 40G HD, I have no intention of using it, so why not give Ubuntu the other 70G's
  3. I was thinking about Gpart LiveCD. BootitNG is a trial version, how long does it last?
  4. I was thinking of putting /swap on the hdb, NOT on hda at all, but I'm not sure if install allows that.
  5. Alternate Ubuntu 7.04 CD downloading as I type this. (197.3 of 696.2MB @ 15.4KB/sec - Time left: 9:13:45)

  hey ... I didn't finish ...

  5. {con't} I only have a 1M connection.
  6. Oh oh ... good sense!!!! You don't know me. :)
          Just joking ... what you wrote is reassuring. Thanks.
  7. the only reason I was going to partition hdb was for /swap and /temp then the third for my personal stuff.
     7a Can't the archive manager create a ".tar.gz" of /bruloo {catching all the hidden stuff} ??

  Is mondo an Ubuntu program?
  Will check in tomorrow morning.
  Good night from BsAs.

Bruce Milmine

Bruce,

It's a matter of taste --> gparted cd will do ok; I'm used to BootitNG that I used for years and honestly, I can not imagine a PC without it --> it's easy to use v v powerful, it has a v small footprint, it's os independent, etc, etc ; the cost is v manageable --> some $30 or so. I think (I'm not sure) the grace period may be 30 days

sorry, read common sense

mondo is a very powerful backup/restore util --> get familiar with it please and you'll be amazed what it can do--> make a hard copy of the pdf file on site and experiment a bit, I think that it can answer any demand.

I'm not the person that is 'hooked' on win or linux --> whatever enables me to do things faster, better and elegant is for me be it dos, win, linux etc.

peter b

I'm back.

  Ubuntu 7.04 up and running ... all is well
  Thanks Peter b, ergosys and Wrwrwr for you imputs, time and efforts.

  Here's what I have now:

bruloo@The-Team:~$ sudo fdisk -l
Password:

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 1305 10482381 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 1306 9728 67657747+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 1306 9591 66557263+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 9592 9728 1100421 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Disk /dev/sdb: 40.0 GB, 40020664320 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4865 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
bruloo@The-Team:~$

  Just have to partition hdb and it's all done.

Bruce Milmine