Trying to install Xubuntu with windows xp and I couldn't resize the first partition.

Mac_09 · 05-11-2008, 03:35 PM

I already have windows XP installed on a 30GB hard drive. I tried to install Xubuntu on a dual boot just a few minutes ago. Everything worked well, even checked for problems before install, that went fine. Install was working until the partitioning part. I chose the option to resize the first partition (windows XP) and install Xubuntu in the free space and got the following message:

[!!] Partition disk
The resize operation is impossible
Because of an unknown reason it is impossible to resize this partition.

Check /var/log/syslog or see virtual console 4 for the details.

How do I fix this?

If this can't be fixed then I wouldn't mind having a linux only machine, but will I be able to keep my same outlook e-mail address from when I had windows XP?

brianL · 05-11-2008, 03:45 PM

Have you defragmented your XP? If not, first disable the page file, reboot, defragment. Then try resizing.

syg00 · 05-11-2008, 05:29 PM

ntfsprogs doesn't require the any of that anymore, but it does require the partition to be error-free. That can only be fixed from windoze.
Go back to windoze and run "chkdsk /f" from a command window. Reply "y" to the reboot query, and reboot - twice.

If the errors are all corrected, then try the resize again. Otherwise, you are out of luck.
The email client determines the user name you expose, so yes you should be o.k. if you decide to change completely.

brianL · 05-11-2008, 07:14 PM

From what I've read, ntfsprogs will resize the filesystem, but not the partition. The page file (shows up as a green band in the XP defrag GUI, designated as "cannot be moved"), still needs to be disabled before resizing the partition.

http://linux.die.net/man/8/ntfsresize

syg00 · 05-11-2008, 07:39 PM

Should have been more specific - these days all the NTFS resizing tools use ntfsprogs "under the covers". The GUI typically handles the partition resizing separately for you - usually (always ???) using libparted.
I've never had to disable a windoze page file to do any resizing - when done from Linux. And I do this a lot. Of course, it also can't hurt, so by all means try it.

okos · 05-11-2008, 08:04 PM

Have you tried gparted.
It is a live cd and is very easy to use.
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

I have never run into any problems with it.