hi, brand new user to linux here, just so you know i've been a hard core windows fanboy for years so expect to see alot of me because i dont have a clue =D

anyway, i've jsut started useing umbuntu and just got the hang of installing it and while playing with the partisioning tool during setup i found out i could resize NTFS partisions with it. If i resize an NTFS partision with this will it loose any data in that partision? if not, is there any way i can access this functionality direct from the CD without having to install Ubuntu?

Regards Solouko

The tool is called 'Gparted', and yes you can use it from the CD without installing anything.
I believe it will resize NTFS partitions just like it will do with linux partitions, **BUT** editing NTFS partitions is never a 100% safe operation. Data corruption/loss is always a small possibility when modifying partitions.
There is much more information around LQ here on this subject, so please research and form an opinion for yourself as to whether it is safe enough to do.
As for resizing linux partitions, it is an excellent tool, and for me, it has worked without problems.

Thanks for your help, i didn't actually figure out how to run the program without going through the installer but it still worked =D I'll have to figure that out later... but that partitioner tool is a lot nicer to use than anything I've used before.

thanks again!

I agree 100%, it is the nicest partition tool I have ever used too
When you load the LiveCD, you will find Gparted in the Administration menu at the top of the screen.
Something like 'Administration ---> Utilities ---> Gparted'..
This may be *slightly* wrong directions, but it IS thereabouts, in the menu.

Let me clarify too, incase we are missing each other: Ubuntu is a 'liveCD' meaning when you boot it, you can either USE IT AS IS, off the CD, or you can INSTALL IT.. So, I just wanted to see if this is what you mean by 'the installer'.. ? Either way, Gparted is there, in both cases.

Could i have by any chance downloaded a NON-Live version? i downloaded version 6.10 from the Ubuntu website and no matter how much i stare at it when i put the CD in the drive it doesn't seem to give me any option to boot from the CD, am i being dense it only give 4 installation options and nothing that says boot, other then the last option which says boot from hard disk. *sigh* I'll download the 6.06 LTS see if that's any different.

I have 6.10 here. The first menu option should read something like "Start or Install Ubuntu". That is the option to use to boot the CD.

That's very odd... mine down't have that, if it did it all would have made alot more sence, i've obviously messed up somewhere... ah... maybe it's because i put the xUbuntu disk in insted of the Ubuntu one XD *goes to try the correct CD*