Partitioning for Linux

[.Maleficus.]

So I saved some space on my hard drive for Ubuntu. I later found that I couldn't get _any_ distro on my computer. So, I made a new Windows partition for that unused space.

It's a month later, Edgy has been released, and I figured, "Hey, I might as well give it a shot." I'm glad I did.

But now, I don't know what to do with that second partition of mine. I thought I could just go into the gparted thing on the install and select that partition and install over that, but stuff comes up that I just don't understand lol. I don't want to accidently erase my good Windows partition because if I did I would probably die. So how do I unpartition it so I can install Ubuntu on it?

Thanks for any help!

[simon275]

I had a quick look on google.

These only work by using windows to unpartition the drive.

Here is what microsoft has to say

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309000&Product=winxp


How to delete a partition or a logical drive
To delete a partition or logical drive:
1. In the Disk Management window, right-click the partition or logical drive that you want to delete, and then click Delete Partition or Delete Logical Drive.
2. Click Yes when you are prompted to delete the partition or logical drive. The partition or logical drive is deleted.
Important
• When you delete a partition or a logical drive, all the data on that partition or logical drive, and the partition or the logical drive, are deleted.
• You cannot delete the system partition, boot partition, or a partition that contains the active paging (swap) file.
• You cannot delete an extended partition unless the extended partition is empty. All logical drives in the extended partition must be deleted before you can delete the extended partition.

There are some partioning programs you can use

http://www.partition-manager.com/

and

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/diskdirector/

But these cost money here are some free ones

http://www.ranish.com/part/

and

http://www.zeleps.com/

Your best bet would be to back up your safe files and reformat the whole disk.

Hope this helps.

[.Maleficus.]

So Microsoft says all I need to do is delete that partition? I have nothing on it (trying to use all of C: first) and I should be able to install?

I think I'll try that. At worst it will delete and I won't be able to install, and that doesn't hurt me much.

[simon275]

Hope it all works out for you.

[.Maleficus.]

Yeah man, it worked great. Thanks a lot!

[ajmilton]

if it's properly partitioned, you can also just have windows (or ubuntu) call it another drive, and use it as a separate logical drive.
i think that you can do that from start -> settings -> control panel -> administrative tools -> computer management -> disk management in windows. no idea how to in ubuntu :p
but it sounds like you've got that worked out already :P

[DaveW]

Every single linux distro i've installed has a 'delete linux partitions' option when installing. It doesn't affect your windows partition. It should have this function.

-Dave