One HDD with one shared NTFS, one Windows, and three or four linux partions?

dusf · 01-22-2014, 08:29 AM

After much time installing Windows 8, updates, upgrading to 8.1, setting up SSD expresscache and then configuring it with my most essential programs I discovered that even after defragmenting the disk the 30GB of Windows was installed on, Disk Management would only allow me shrink the partition to ~236GB, which is about 136GB over the mark. Using GParted Live I then deleted all partitions on the 436GB disk and from the Windows 8 install I created a partition just over 100GB, the just over allows for the 350MB second primary system partition the Windows install creates automatically. After configuring Windows 8.1 again, from Ubuntu Live I looked in GParted which warned me:

Quote:

/dev/sda contains GPT signatures, indicating that it has a GPT table. However, it does not have a valid fake msdos partition table as it should. Perhaps it was corrupted -- possibly by a program that doesn't understand GPT partition tables. Or perhaps you detected the GPT table, and are now using an msdos partition table. Is this a GPT partition table?

Online gdisk was initially being recommended to fix this but then fixparts. According to the fixparts tutorial I answered N when the following warning appeared:

Quote:

NOTICE: GPT signatures detected on the disk, but no 0xEE protective partition!The GPT signatures are probably left over from a previous partition table.Do you want to delete them (if you answer 'Y', this will happenimmediately)? (Y/N):

fixparts then gave me the following warning which is not covered in the tutorial and initial Google results are ambiguous about:

Quote:

Warning: 0xEE partition doesn't start on sector 1. This can cause problems in some OSes.

Is this something that should concern me and I need to do something about? I'm holding off on further installation until advised.

I read earlier that with GPT there are unlimited numbers of primary partitions. A few minutes ago in the Ubuntu install I looked at (which I soon after ended without making any changes) and in GParted I saw the option to create a GPT partition table but both warned they would erase all data on the disk and I do not want to lose my Windows install. Do I just install each linux OS as normal selecting all partitions as primary? I looked at creating a 4GB swap at the end of the drive and it gave me the option for logical or primary with swap selected.

I am confused about how the drive is using MBR for Windows 8.1 but will also end up using GPT, maybe the latter replaces the former completely?

I would like to install from left to right on the disk 465GB something like:

[Win 8.1 100GB][Shared NTFS Media and Win Program files 234GB][Possible Clonezilla image of Win 8.1 install 30GB or less][Ubuntu / 25GB][Ubuntu ~ 10GB][Ubuntu swap 4GB][Debian / 25GB][Debian ~ 10GB][Debian swap 4GB][Kali / + ~ 10 or 15GB][Kali swap 4GB][Possible bootable Clonezilla 2GB]

I think think this order would allow the greatest flexibility in the future if resizing the first three partitions, after backing up where necessary. Please advise if you would recommend a different order, or partitions sizes, maybe 10GB is too big for home on Debian and Ubuntu with a shared NTFS partition for media etc?

ukiuki · 01-23-2014, 05:12 PM

Welcome to LQ !

To save you a lot time, troubles(which im not going to mention) and work, use the free space in the disk just as a storage partition, for music, movies, whatever your needs are, so for that create another ntfs partition.

Now the next step is to install Virtualbox, which will give you the possibilities to run guest operating systems inside of your windows system(host), so you will be able to have virtual machines(many if you want) in real time while your host system is running. Also you should save the virtual disks which are just files, in that storage partition.

That will be the best option for you, will save a lot time, trouble and work, with better results.

Regards