Can I format a partition in the middle of a disk and create new?
 

My question is: I have a computer, and its [fdisk] shows as below. It's logical partitions from sda5. Now I want to setup a new linux, but there's no more space on my disk. I'm thinking is it possible for me to format a NTFS partition(such as sda6) and setup linux? Or remove sda6 and create 2 new partitions?

What my concern is, sda6 is the middle but not the end of disk. I know I can format/remove a partition which is at the end of disk, but I am not sure that in the middle. I have ever tried this case before(format a NTFS partition to ext3 in the middle of a disk and setup linux), but fail unfortunately ...

Is anyone has done this before? Can I format a NTFS partition in the middle?

If I can, what do I need to pay attention?
Such as, can I remove sda6 and create 2 partitions on recycling spaces? Or just can format the whole sda6 to ext3? If I can, the new partitions look like sda6 + sda16, isn't it?

Thank you!

Quote:

fdisk -l Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sda1 * 1 4462 35840983+ c W95 FAT32 (LBA) /dev/sda2 4463 37907 268642282+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA) /dev/sda3 37907 38900 7980922 83 Linux /dev/sda5 4463 11856 59392273+ 7 HPFS/NTFS /dev/sda6 11857 15681 30724281 7 HPFS/NTFS /dev/sda7 15682 23075 59392273+ 7 HPFS/NTFS /dev/sda8 23076 33019 79875148+ 7 HPFS/NTFS /dev/sda9 33020 33263 1952768 83 Linux /dev/sda10 33263 33287 194560 83 Linux /dev/sda11 33287 34867 12694528 83 Linux /dev/sda12 34868 35354 3905536 82 Linux swap / Solaris /dev/sda13 35354 35840 3905536 83 Linux /dev/sda14 35840 36083 1951744 83 Linux /dev/sda15 36083 37907 14647296 83 Linux

You can format an existing partition to whatever filesystem you like. But I don't know what issues may occur if you delete it and create new ones. Maybe fdisk etc will complain about partitions not in disk order.

You can do what-ever you want - reformat it, delete it and make new partitions.
However ...

I'd suggest you stick with reformatting it - and change the type to 0x83 while you're at it (not absolutely necessary, but do it for your sanity at least). That means just one (new) filesystem, not two BTW.
If you delete it, your higher numbered partitions (i.e. sda7-15) will probably all get renumbered to one lower. That may not affect you, but it might just get as ugly as all hell.

:) Thanks for you guys! I will take your advice just reformat it and change the type, not create new ones.