formatting partitions
 

This question is for beachboy2 from Hatman KZN.
Why?
Because that is who I am.
Since the clean install my password for my Hatman KZN login is no longer accepted and the reset link does not work.
So I had to re-register under another name.

I did a clean install a you suggested and created the new partitions successfully.
The problem is that I still cannot install windows as the dual boot because the partitions are not NTFS and the setting in the disc manager won't change it.

Here's what I ended up with

Partition 1
Size 30GB---24Gb free ---(19,5% full)
Device /dev/sda1
Partition type Linux (Bootable)
contents Ext 4 (version 1.0)---mounted at Filesystem root


Extended Partition - Partition 2
Size 720 GB
Device /dev/sda2
Partition type Extended
Contents Extended partition


Swap partition 5
Size 2.0 GB
Device /dev/sda5
Partition type Linux swap
Contents Swap (version2)----Active

File system - Partition 6
Size 718 GB----706 GB free (1,6% full)
Device /dev/sda 6
Partition type Linux
Contents ext 4 (version 1.0 )---Mounted at /Home

My logic tells me that I need to divide Partition 6 and format the one half but how do I do that?









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Somebody up there hates me. I want my Mommy.

Sending a hug...because I know the feeling...
Melissa
(sorry if I answer without a solution, blame your sig :) ...)

It is generally simpler, if you want windows and Linux, to install windows first. The first thing you need to do is to create space. You don't indicate how large your drive is but you show Linux partitions taking up 750GB so if that is the size of the hard drive, you need to use something like GParted (which is on some Linux installation DVDs, you don't indicate what you are using?) to unmount the large sda6 partition and then shrink it and then shrink the Extended partition so you can create a primary partition on which to install windows. Windows will not install without boot files on a primary partition. Keep your Linux install DVD handy as you will need it to reinstall Grub so you can boot both systems.

Is this a newer computer? Are you using UEFI with Linux? Which version of windows?

Hi Yancek

Thanks for the response.
My apologies for not giving more info.
As my post said it was aimed at beachboy who has all that info from previous posts.

I am running Mint 17.3 – Mate on a Samsung laptop with a 750GB hard drive.
It is a clean install from a previous problematic Mint installation.
That is why I cannot install Windows first because all the parttions are configured for Linux.
I am wanting to install Windows 7 Home premium

I can do another clean install and re-assign the partitions if that is possible and will help.
Then install Windows and set it as prime.
I can then re-arrange the partitions and re-install Mint as secondary.
At this stage is is not a major mission as the installation is fresh and all the libraries are empty.
I just need DETAILED guidance as to how to do it.

I will be turning 80 in a very short while so please be patient if I do not grasp instructions quickly.





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Being dumb is hard work

I will type really slow just for you :D

if you're working with 750GB, when you, providing you're using a CD/DVD to install windows FIRST.

You must by now understand how to partition the hdd during install. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt.


With windows First. Partitioning during install. During install giving your Windows what ever size above 32GB to install it, and leave room for installing apps, and expiation. Then remember what size it is. After, very soon after you get Windows installed. then install your linux, having to do the same, partition that left over to how you want your Linux partitions to be. three or two or whatever.
example:
then let Linux install as normal, installing grub MBR or how ever you're installing it. let grub do its thing and pick up windows.

if you're UEFI in Windows install, then UEFI in Linux as well. do Not cross mix install types.

it should not cause you any problems. But yes as other stated in there. Install Windows first. if you do not then Windows will destroy your grub install and that is just a pain to reestablish.

remember your partition sizes so you do not get mixed up and pick the wrong partition when installing Linux.

If you go to the link below and scroll down the page a bit, there is a detailed tutorial on dual-booting windows and Ubuntu. Since Mint uses the same installer, about the only difference in the install will be a green background instead of the Ubuntu purple background.

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/u...all-guide.html

Hi Guys and Guyesses.

Here is where I am at the moment.
I CANNOT install Windows because Linux is hogging all the partition formats.
Managing to create new partitions or to resize existing ones is not a problem.
The problem lies in converting any one of them to NTFS and until I can do so there is no way that I can install Windows FIRST, LAST OR ANYWHERE ELSE.
I have split the biggest partition into two, leaving one as FREE.


I Downloaded the Dedoimedo tutorial as yancek suggested.
It is indeed a long and very detailed document and an excellent tutorial but I will unfortunately not survive long enough to absorb it all.
By the time I start reading the second chapter, what I learned in the first one is forgotten even though I keep copious notes.
It's called oldtimers disease.

As for UEFI?
As far as I know I'm in BIOS but then again, I wouldn't recognise UEFI if it bit me on my whatsis.

I am determined not to give up on Linux. It keeps my addled brain from atrophying completely.
I will go back and RTFM to see if I can find out how to convert one partition to NTFS but in the meantime, please do not give up on me guys.

One solution of course, is to remove my hard drive, couple it to another PC via an external case and format the whole thing but that is an extreme scenario, reserved for when all else fails.




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I am not stubborn, I am determined. Other people are stubborn.

giving that you're willing to start completely over from the start.

Windows install will convert the format to ntfs for you when you use their install to manage your re-creating your partitions to fit both Windows and Linux on one Hard Drive. It is done similar to the instructions given to you for Ubuntu. you have to do a manual partitioning of your hard drive while in your Windows setup/install. The same will take place when you install your Linux afterwords. It will convert your partition to the format you want to install Linux on. ext4 being the most latest and popular.

here is a link to a youtube video on how to do that. it is for Win7 but it is the same for the other Windows OS's too.

Creating Partitions Video --- Creating Partitions Text with pictures

then chances are you do not have UEFI. be sure your boot is set to legacy or IDE or ACHI if it is given in your BIOS, ACHI which is faster then IDE. If you do not see it then it is not there. So do not worry about that BIOS does not provide for it. Not to worry it can still work without UEFI. I have a BIOS that has it and I do not use UEFI.

I actually commend you for your perseverance.

That shows you're a thinker. I like that. :D

note: remember Windows likes a separate partition for its own use other then the one it uses for its OS. to use for hibernation, and whatever else it uses it for. I have personally ran Windows 8.1 without this extra partition that is not assigned a letter. Though I do not use hibernation on my laptop. I turn all of that crap off. Sleep mode and off are the only two I use. But id Windows makes that extra partition then I just leave it alone. ( I been known to install systems over and over again. So I've gained experience in this area. ) :D

You need to shrink the partitions on your drive because the way you installed it, it was basically the same as a windows install where it takes up the entire drive. I suppose you used one of the auto-install options. You can set all the partition sizes if you use the manual method which is called "Something Else" in Mint.

You need to use the Mint installation DVD/flash drive and boot it up, when you get to the Desktop, open a terminal and enter "sudo gparted" without quotes which will open the GParted Partition Manager which you can use to shrink your large partition and create new ones. Make sure you create primary partitions for windows. The link below has detailed instructions, go to Section 6, Real Life Examples and skip the rest as that is the section which applies to what you want.

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/gparted.html

Not to poop on your Wheaties. as much as you are right about how Ubuntu derivatives preform their manipulation of the hard drive. but he is in that I have to install Windows first then Linux, but I already have Linux installed on my system taking up my entire hdd with something other then NTFS format. So I have to re-do everything and install Windows first but my hard drive is Linux formated, and I do not know how to make it NTFS to install Windows on my hard drive first then Linux scenario.

which would hopefully lead him not using that form of creating partitions as you suggest. for ease of installing both OS's without that hassle of ensuing him to re-install grub after Windows destroys the grub install due to being installed after Linux is already installed on the hard drive scenario.

That is my understanding. Correct me if I am wrong.

Rustyhatman aka Hatman KZN,

I am sorry to hear that you are still having problems.

As others have pointed out, normally Windows is installed first, then part of the Windows space is shrunk to accommodate Linux as a dual-boot.

For the benefit of other helpers, the laptop is a Samsung Notebook NP300E5A purchased in 2014.

I cannot remember whether it is W7 or W8/W8.1.

BW-userx

I'm not really sure what you are referring to. The problem the OP has has nothing to do with which operating system he has, it has to do with the fact that the entire space on the hard drive is currently taken up by the various partitions so there is no place to install windows. It will be necessary for him to create unallocated or an ntfs formatted partition on which to install windows, no way around that because he won't be able to install it to a Linux partition. Simplest thing, use the Mint DVD and use gparted to shrink the one large partition.

He could also format ntfs from GParted. The OP will need to use the "custom" install option from windows and then will have all the options to either select unallocated space or an ntfs partition which will probably need to be marked as active/bootable.

If there is no ntfs partition or unallocated space and the OP does not use the windows custom install method, I would expect it to overwrite everything but I don't really know. It may be possible to create the unallocated space from the windows installer but I don't use windows and this is the first install of it in years.

It seems you missed that. He is stating he does not care about all of the partitions that leave him no room to install Windows, it is not understanding that Windows will reformat a partition into NTFS when he sets it up to install on any particular partition. Regardless if he uses an existing one or starts over from scratch or moves things around .... etc...

The quote above is from the original post by the OP. If he's using "Disc Manager" (which I'm not familiar with) from the booted Mint, the partition he needs to resize is the separate /home partition which would obviously have to be unmounted before resizing or formatting and the GParted on the Mint install DVD would do both. He should be able to do it from the installed system if he has GParted. I've never used disc manager so I don't what it's capable of.

If he's willing to install windows and format everything, I don't know what the problem is. Certainly, the windows installer would be able to do this. My suggestions above would simply eliminate the need for that, but it's his computer.

Notice the simulairties

all he needs to do is install windows it will convert the partition that he is installing windows on to NTFS itself.

it is not actually an issue that he thinks it is.