Ubuntu

2 partitions created reformat necessary?

Asked by blinky2358

Hi i am running windows xp right on my hard drive and im looking to create 2 partitions on my hardrive to install unbutu. but i was curious that if i have to reformat my hard drive before creating any partitions. Cus i have alot of stuff on my hard drive and i really don't want to back it up and reformat it. My question is, do i have to reformat my current hardrive in order to create another partition to install unbutu?? Thank you guys

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jonathan riley
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C de-Avillez (hggdh2) said : 		#1

Not necessarily -- the Ubuntu install should allow you to resize the current Windows image. See https://answers.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/9984 for one possibiltity.

Nevertheless, I would still:

1. defragment the current Windows partition -- usually you will have file fragments all over the partition, which will make a partition resize either more dangerous (if it moves data before resizing) or impossible;
2. take a backup -- if there is a mess-up, then data will be probably lost.

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Best jonathan riley (jlriley-gmail) said : 		#2

: "My question is, do i have to reformat my current hardrive in order to create another partition to install unbutu?"

NO! Here's my advice.
1) Defragment Windows using the defragment program. I think it's located at *start > programs > accessories > system tools > defragment*. Don't bother clicking the "analyse" option, just go to 'defrag'. Do this couple of times. Defragging gets quicker each time you do it.
2) After tha's all done (and it might have taken an hour or so),insert an ubuntu cd and restart the computer booting from the cd.
3) Open up the partition editor (I think it's located at *system > administration > gnome partition editor*)
4) Unmount anything that's mounted (it's in right click). Wait for the program to crash LOL! (I'm not kidding!)
5) Reopen the damn partition editor :-P
6) Right click on the (now unmounted) hard drive and resize it down as small as you want it to go.
7) You now have a load of free space on the drive. *THAT* is what you need to reformat if you want to install Ubuntu :-)

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jonathan riley (jlriley-gmail) said : 		#3

you beat me by one minute :-O

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blinky2358 (usablock) said : 		#4

thank you jonathan i will follow your steps

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blinky2358 (usablock) said : 		#5

thank you hddgh also for your input