I'm trying to make a new partition to install Slackware on my computer, which already has three partitions (Windows, Ubuntu, and swap). I'm going to use fdisk, but everytime I do, I type "n", but it gives me an error saying there are no more available sectors left. I thought that you could have four, and I only have three, so what's the problem? Thanks!

How about the output of "fdisk -l"? This information is relevant.

There're only have 4 primary partitions and up to 16 partitions if config extended paritions instead of a primary paritition. for example, assume exist four primary partitions(/dev/hda1, /dev/hda2, /dev/hda3, /dev/hda4), you'll be warned as continute create new partition("n"). So, it's better backup the data of last primary parition, then remove it and create new extended partition to add more logical partitions. First of all, please check "fdisk -l" carefully.


Good luck,
--Phillip

This is what fdisk -l looks like:

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80000000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9726 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 5099 40957686 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 5100 9561 35841015 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 9562 9726 1325362+ 82 Linux swap/Solaris

Thanks!

Would you review the harddisk capacity? Check the Block column of "fdisk -l" output, it seems that the disk is full and no space left.
40957686+35841015+1325362=78124063, depend on the harddisk geometry, it would be 80GB as marked.

Regards,
Phillip

So how would I change the partition sizes so that there is enough free space to add another on? Thanks again.

You have several choices:

1. Drop a given partition(s), then recreate >1 partition in the space it used to occupy. For example, you could delete /dev/sda3 and /dev/sda2, then redefine that space into multiple smaller partitions. Note: you would lose any existing data in those partitions.

2. You could use a tool such as BootIT NG to resize your Windows partition. Note that you currently are allocating ~42G of your 80G drive to Windows, and even if half that space is empty/unused, it's all still in a partition that has been allocated to Windows (and thus is unavailable to Linux). To rectify this situation, delete any and all obsolete files in Windows, then run a defrag, then use a partitioning utility to shrink the existing Windows parition and thus make space available to Linux. (The purpose of the defrage is to maximize the amount of contiguous free space, which is helpful when you are resizing) If you shrank your 42G Windows partition down to, say, 30G, you could allocate the remaining 12G to Slack.

3. Do you have a spare hard drive that you could install into your PC? This would permit you to retain your existing installations, while allowing you to install Slack on that second drive.

4. Take the plunge, dump Windows, install Slack in /dev/sda1

Regardless of your decision, be aware that repartitioning work can be risky, so make backups of any important data. Good luck with it, welcome to LQ! As a long-time Slack user, it still remains my #1 distro choice, and I applaud your desire to install it

Thank you very much for your help! I think I'm going to go with option two right now, and shrink my Windows partition. I'm gradually becoming a Linux-only user, but I occassionaly use XP. Anyway, thanks again for your help!