change resierfs to ext3 partition

hamish · 08-20-2004, 06:38 AM

Hello

I need to free up about 4gb on my root partition (which is reiserfs) so that I can put win98 on my computer. I know that parted doesn't have reiserfs support.

question1
How can I resize my partition WITHOUT loosing my data?

question2
One thing I would do is to change my reiser partition to ext3 and then just use parted to resize it. Would I look all my data if I did this?

thanks
hamish

rignes · 08-20-2004, 08:42 AM

This may be a wild guess. I don't know if it will do what you want. But try reading the man for resize_reiserfs. It claims it can shrink reiserfs partitions.

Of course, do a full backup before you try.

Hope that helps,

Brian

Not now, John! · 08-20-2004, 02:04 PM

I would do it like this:
- start Linux from some Live distro
- tar all files from that ReiserFS partition to a file on some other partition.
- resize/reformat to ext3 that partition
- untar * files from archive

You must be sure that ext3 support is compiled in the kernel (which is probably the case if it is not custom built kernel). Also, edit /etc/fstab file.

hamish · 08-22-2004, 04:07 PM

hey
Indeed, I have done exactly what Not now, John! suggested.

Will my installation realise that I have changed things (and, thus, break) or will it not really mind?

Hamish

michaelk · 08-22-2004, 04:13 PM

No, you will have to change /etc/fstab for that filesystem to reflect the change.