Ubuntu

HELP! wrong resized partition

Asked by Laura

Oh dear! Think I messed up son's computer big time. He has a huge hard drive running windows XP.

I am installing/resizing the hard drive to run Ubuntu 7.04.

When I get to the screen I selected 51. GB as the size I wanted the UBUNTU partition...but that's not right, is it?

I used the guided button which showed to cut the hard drive in half. But I did not want Ubuntu taking up half the hard drive...I thought 51 GB would be plenty.

But now if I am understanding correctly, Ubuntu live CD is trying to resize WINDOWS to that size? eek! I am stuck on the UBUNTU screen at 0%. Nothing has happened for an hour. How do I get out of this mess? Or did I do it correctly?

Thanks! making myself sick over this!

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
Jim Hutchinson
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Jim Hutchinson (jphutch) said : 		#1

You know, I've never figured out which way that slider works. However, if it's in the process of resizing right now, I wouldn't mess with it. That is a good way to mess up the drive for windows too. If the drive is large, it may take a while to resize - especially if you didn't defrag windows before starting. Is there any drive activity (even if the progress bar isn't moving)? If so, let it continue. You can resize later if needed or start over but I wouldn't stop it in the middle.

Revision history for this message
Laura (bbbmc59) said : 		#2

Thank you for the fast answer. Right after I posted it started moving and went to the "installation" screen. I proceded, guessing as you suggested that I might mess things up royally if I didn't. I hope if I need to resize later or start over that, that is easier to do! Thanks again for your promptness!

Revision history for this message
Jim Hutchinson (jphutch) said : 		#3

Resizing later may or may not be easy. Sometimes it doesn't want to go the way you want. However, the easy solution is to just remove the Ubuntu partition, resize to the size you want and then reinstall (this may not be necessary). When it's all done, let us know if you need to change anything.

Revision history for this message
Laura (bbbmc59) said : 		#4

Well, I found out (the hard way) that the slider bar is showing me the size of the WINDOWS partition. So now I have created a Windows partition MUCH smaller than wanted. Can you please tell me how to remove the Ubuntu partition? This is what I would like to do. Thanks much!

Revision history for this message
Laura (bbbmc59) said : 		#5

I found similar questions asked (after I posted the above) and rebooted from Ubuntu disc hoping to use GPARTED. I could not find it anywhere (gparted) when I booted from the disc. So I created yet TWO MORE ubuntu partiions! I do not want this...how can I undo this horrible mess I have. Near as I can tell, I have ubuntu in two partions, swap files in two partions and Windoxs xp in one. The partition Windows is in is 51 gig. I want to reclaim Windows partition to a much bigger size...even if it means getting rid of Ubuntu and starting over. Can anyone help walk me through this? I will be offline for many hours but certainly appreciate any help at all. BTW, I am not familiar with Ubuntu so do not know how to give you the names of those partitions. Thanks.

Revision history for this message
Best Jim Hutchinson (jphutch) said : 		#6

Yeah, best solution would be removing the ubuntu partitions and starting over. However, if you didn't backup important files on the windows partition I'd suggest doing that first. Boot the live CD as you found info on and then run gparted. It may be under system-admin as "partition editor" or just run it from as terminal (apps-accessories)

gksudo gparted

Any partition you want to work on has to be "unmounted" so do that first (if they get mounted). Delete them and resize. With your painfully gained knowledge you can then install the way you want.

Revision history for this message
Jim Hutchinson (jphutch) said : 		#7

Oh, when you install, this might help...

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall

Revision history for this message
Laura (bbbmc59) said : 		#8

Jim, you have been a HUGE help and I consider my big mistake "fixed and solved".

For those who maybe be new like me, please note that when you move the slider bar to adjust your partition sizes...the orange graphic to the left is the size of WINDOWS and the uncolored area to the right is where Ubuntu will be installed. I learned the hard way for sure!

Once I booted using the Ubuntu CD, the gparted program was found in the Administration menu and was titled "Partition Editor". It was very easy to use and was a life saver for this computer!

Thank you again Jim!

Revision history for this message
Laura (bbbmc59) said : 		#9

Thanks Jim Hutchinson, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
Jim Hutchinson (jphutch) said : 		#10

Glad I could help. And don't worry, you are not alone. I'm sure many of us newer users to Linux did much of our learning the "hard way". I know I did :). In my first 6 months of use I reinstalled Ubuntu probably 20 times.

Revision history for this message
Arindam (arindam-biswas) said : 		#11

I have made the same mistake too :-(.

Anyways, reading through all your answers I hope I will also be able to fix this problem and reduce the memory allotted to Ubuntu.

My Question is, what happens to the section of memory that is taken out of Ubuntu? Does Windows reconnises that automatically or do I have to do some thing special to get that memory back in Windows?

Thanks in advance!!!