[SOLVED] Debian 6 dual boot with Win 7: No option for "Use largest continuous free partition"

shivaa · 03-09-2013, 11:50 PM

I think that all problem is because of these two partitions:

Quote:

#2...... 9MB ....... Win system reserved
#3...... 101MB ....... Win system reserved

Debian installer considering these 2 as two different paritions, and thus there're total 4 partitions i.e. C, D and these 2.

Randicus Draco Albus · 03-10-2013, 03:07 AM

The easiest solution would be to use the entire disc.

That is of course, if you no longer want Windows. (That would be my choice, but may not be viable for you.)

descendant_command · 03-10-2013, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shivaa

I think that all problem is because of these two partitions:

Debian installer considering these 2 as two different paritions, and thus there're total 4 partitions i.e. C, D and these 2.

No, the problem is that it is a "dynamic disk".
You need to convert it to a "basic disk".

shivaa · 03-10-2013, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by descendant_command

No, the problem is that it is a "dynamic disk".
You need to convert it to a "basic disk".

I have only one disk of 750G in my PC, and as per Windows help manual:

Quote:

To change a dynamic disk back to a basic disk using the Windows interface

Back up all volumes on the disk you want to convert from dynamic to basic.

In Disk Management, right-click each volume on the dynamic disk you want to convert to a basic disk, and then click Delete Volume for each volume on the disk.

When all volumes on the disk have been deleted, right-click the disk, and then click Convert to Basic Disk.

Though I can delete D and E partitions, but how can I delete C paritition in a running system? And without deleting all, it's not possible to convert it to basic one.

Any suggestions?

descendant_command · 03-10-2013, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shivaa

but how can I delete C paritition in a running system? And without deleting all, it's not possible to convert it to basic one.

Any suggestions?

You can't.
You need to back it up / delete it from another bootable environment.

TobiSGD · 03-10-2013, 01:59 PM

descendant_commands is right, your only option is to delete all partitions, including the installed Windows system, the use Gparted to create a partition for Windows and do a fresh install of it. After that you can install Debian without problems.
The only other options are to either install Debian on an external disk or to use a VM like Virtualbox to run Debian (or Windows on a Debian host).

widget · 03-10-2013, 05:39 PM

Geeze, went right past me.

For me that would be a real easy fix. Reformate the drive and install Debian. Best cure for MS on a box there is.

Another option, that the OP may like better, would be to get another drive in the computer and install debian there. Install grub on the second drive MBR and choose which drive to boot to in bios.

EDDY1 · 03-12-2013, 03:33 AM

Windows 7 has a 200Mb Syste reserve partition which may not show up in disk management so you may have a total of 4 partitions & if that is the case you need unallocated space in your extended partition

EDDY1 · 03-12-2013, 03:44 AM

BTW if you use Guided partition you will see the unallocated space in partition information all you have to do is select it. Also you will be able to see the 200Mb System Resrved partition. If you already have 4 partions you must install within the Extended partition or you may render wins unbootable

TobiSGD · 03-12-2013, 08:29 AM

Creating an extended partition will not help here, since Linux is not able to use Windows' dynamic partitions.

EDDY1 · 03-14-2013, 02:39 AM

My bad TobiSGD I was viewing from mobil phone now that I'm on my computer fianlly after almost 2 weeks I can see that OP has dynamic disk layout. Time to upgrade phone so that I can see the full context of the posts.

Really just want a new phone anyway.

shivaa · 04-01-2013, 12:57 AM

Thanks everyone for your responses!

It was actually a problem with Windows partitions i.e. no. of partitions. However, I moved everything to C: drive and left only one partitions on Windows (plus a 100G of unallocated space for Debian installation). Then I again installed Debian, and it showed me options for 'largest free partition', so I installed it successfully.

Thanks again!