Ext3 Partition Resize

nerotique · 07-24-2003, 07:48 PM

Does anyone know if it's possible to resize an Ext3 partition on a disk that is full. For example:

10GB disk:

    /: -using 2.0GB
 /usr: -using 6.0GB
/home: -using 1.5GB
/swap: -using 0.5GB
-----------------------
             10.0GB

can I make my root partition smaller and increase /usr so that I can install more programs?

Tinkster · 07-24-2003, 08:03 PM

Yep... get one of the many rescue-cd's or Knoppix > 3.2
and use parted ...

Cheers,
Tink

nerotique · 07-24-2003, 08:07 PM

Thanks

contrasutra · 07-24-2003, 09:27 PM

As far as I know, you can only resize the end of an ext3 or reiser partition non destructively.

You cant change where the partition starts.

So in your case, I believe you can make the "/" partition smaller, but you couldn't increase the /usr partition to fill the space w/o losing all the data in it.

For a Rescue CD for partitioning, I suggest "System Rescue CD" (origional name, huh) . Its only about 40MB and it comes w/ all the partitioning tools out there, even a bunch of GUIs for them. That, and it comes with other basic recovery tools as well.

http://systemrescuecd.sourceforge.net/

Tinkster · 07-24-2003, 10:02 PM

Code:

from `man parted`

       parted  is a disk partitioning and partition resizing pro-
       gram.  It allows you to create, destroy, resize, move  and
       copy  ext2,  ext3,  linux-swap,  FAT and FAT32 partitions.
       This is useful for creating space for new  operating  sys-
       tems,  reorganising  disk  usage,  and copying data to new
       hard disks.

Cheers,
Tink

Azmeen · 07-24-2003, 10:30 PM

Contrasutra is right, and I know this for a fact because I just used parted (to try resize my ext3 partition) less than a month ago.

However, I do recall there's a command somewhere to convert an ext3 partition to ext2, and vice-versa. I've read it somewhere, but dammit, I can't recall where! I'll update when I can remember.

nerotique · 07-24-2003, 10:49 PM

strange. . .

All went well getting parted to run. . but I get a strange error message when I try to resize the root partition.

"incompatable feature enabled on this filesystem"

Do you think that has anything to do with the fact that EXT3 is a journalized filesystem? I'm just reaching for answers . . what do you guys think?

. . . Ah nevermind. . . I see the above post. . I will try to find a man page. Thanks for all your help guys.

aaa · 07-25-2003, 11:12 AM

I got the same error with an ext2 partition.

stevenhasty · 07-25-2003, 01:25 PM

partition magic on windows will resize and move ext3 without data loss.

nerotique · 07-25-2003, 01:41 PM

Well that's what they claim anyway. I used a friend's copy to see if it would work. It didn't, that's why I finally started a new thread and posted here. I thought it might be something specific to my situation, but I guess I was wrong.

stevenhasty · 07-25-2003, 03:23 PM

that's weird. it's always worked for me.

alpesh · 07-26-2003, 01:33 AM

if partition magic on windows works for this it will be very fine i want to know does avybody has successfully done this?

stevenhasty · 07-26-2003, 01:55 PM

the version I used was 8.0 running on windows xp, and I used it to resize, move, and convert a primary ext3 partition to a logical partition.

toytoy · 11-12-2004, 02:13 PM

I just use partition expert 2003 from acronis. I works fine for me on several systems.

H2O-linux · 11-12-2004, 04:32 PM

if you get partion magic and use the emergency diskets you can create in magic this will work. I have used this options many times. Just set you pc to boot from disket with the disket inserted.

here is a windows resize partition to ext3 thread that can be usefull:
link