Creating Linux partitions on new Lenovo notebook

dimm0k · 05-27-2010, 03:42 PM

I'm trying to create some Linux partitions to install Slackware on my Lenovo W510 notebook and I'm getting some partition "errors" when using fdisk or cfdisk during the Slackware install. I have a feeling this is due to the hidden system restore partition and was wondering how others have dealt with this.

MS3FGX · 05-27-2010, 03:59 PM

Is there any settings in the BIOS about blocking partition and/or MBR changes? Some BIOS implementations offer this as an anti-virus feature (a throwback to the days where viruses would often install themselves to the MBR of devices).

Simply having a restore partition would not prevent changing the partition table, so it sounds like there is something else at work here.

dimm0k · 05-27-2010, 04:10 PM

Apparently there used to be such an option in the BIOS with older Thinkpads, but with the newer ones I don't think this is available anymore... what I have noticed is that fdisk complains about the partitions yet lets me make modifications, while cfdisk won't let me proceed at all. With gparted however, there's no messages at all... so I'm wondering if gparted will make modifications and not destruction...

syg00 · 05-27-2010, 05:11 PM

When I last tried Slack Pat had shipped a very backlevel version of fdisk. Hidden partitions are generally not an issue, but if for example you have a gpt disk, then you need a recent fdisk or libparted or similar.
Let's see the partition table "fdisk -l"

vigi · 05-27-2010, 05:24 PM

If you have wndows on it; doing a defragmentation before any changes can help and is recommended.