Need help with partion for dual boot (xp/kubuntu)
 

Not really a newbie Linux (not a power user either) but I’ve always just did a single boot setup on older hardware. Now, thru an odd turn of events, I find myself the owner of a brand new Windows XP Pro box (64 bit) and I’d like to put Linux on it. Unfortunately I don’t have any of the windows install/recovery disks and I would like to keep a windows partition around…just because. My question is this, what is the safest way to resize the NTFS partition and set up a Linux partition without harming the windows install?

I’m planning on loading Kubuntu but heard its partition handling wasn’t perfect for a dul boot with NTFS. I booted up my Knoppix cd and ran qtparted but I got a nervous before I committed the changes and quit. Is this the best plan?

Also when I ran qtparted I noticed that there was 7 gig of “hidden” hard drive at the end of the drive. What is this?

Any good advice?

Thanks.

(BTW I’m probably less of a windows user than linux user when it comes to this kind of thing, if someone has suggestions that I can do from a windows point of view i.e., backups, restore images/disks etc. I wouldn’t mind the suggestions)

Knoppix 4.02 is very solid at resizing NTFS without data loss.

[QUOTE=AltUlster]Also when I ran qtparted I noticed that there was 7 gig of “hidden” hard drive at the end of the drive. What is this?

Now, I can guarantee that I do not know what I am talking about here, but I have a gut-feeling that your hidden 7 gigs just might be a recovery copy of your XP.
It might be worth your while to ferret around some MS forums.

Happy Googling!

Playing with fire if you don't have a Windows install/rescue CD.....

Consider installing another HD for Linux and setting up to boot from floppy. This way, your XP installation is never touched and will still boot if you remove your Linux boot floppy.

Success!
 

Took the plunged, played with fire and came out unscathed. Qtparted off Knoppix took care of everything cleanly. Now off to play with my new OSs!

Thanks!

One thing you might consider doing is making an image of the windows partition so that you could restore a fully functioning XP if something ever happened. Use something like Norton Ghost (commercial) or Partition Image (linux, NTFS is experimental). It basically copies the partition bit for bit and when you restore it, you would have your XP exactly as it is at the time of imaging.