Ok, I've found a 53Gb partition on my computer that is not being used, my 9Gb root is suffering due to having software on it (amazingly) at 88.4% used.
This is what I want to do, migrate my whole linux setup from /dev/hdb2 to /dev/hda6

Can this be done? will I have to update more than just fstab and grub? will it all fall apart during the copy? If it will work is it just a job of opening gentoo and copying /* to /mnt/linux2 (or wherever)?

Should I just start again with a new install? It is a stage 1 Gentoo btw.

I would format the new partition and copy perhaps the whole of /usr across to the new drive. Then in fstab you can add a line so that /usr is now mounted from that new partition.

I did something similar when I moved my /home directory to a new partition.

You could use dd to copy the current partition to the new partition. WARNING! Don't interrupt dd while it's working. You stand a good chance to making the current system non-bootable.
Or, you could use DAR to make a full backup, and, after formatting the new partition for Linux, restore to that partition from the current partition. Then edit fstab and grub to point to the new partition, as an additional entry in the grub menu. Once you are satisfied that it will boot, you are free to re-format the first partition, and put it to other uses.

jollyjoice,

Pretty much all you need to know/do is here:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...69#post1202369

Really!?? I have cloned a couple drives with dd and interrupted it a few times and the system was fine. How would it make the current system in a non-bootable state?

-twantrd

I have been into windows for a long time, and want to convert to Linux. I have SusY 9.2 but want to know how I can install it without losing my current windows operating system. Could somebody please help me understand how I can do this, and if it is posible? Thanx.

How about trying to read TONS of documentation on the subject on the internet and trying actually to do something first!!!!!

hehe, that's true too.

First, you need to allocate a separate partition to install linux. Remember to back up your windows data in case something goes bad. Honestly, I would just grab a spare machine (doesn't have to be powerful at all) and install linux on that to play around and learn.

-twantrd

Diederick, just for future reference, don't thread hijack... make your own.