Partition table..HELP!
 

i have a small problem with my lap:
i have a partition table so made:
win32-reiserfs-reiserfs-linux swap
i have installed win xp and kanotix..
now i wish to install ubuntu to give it a try BUT i already have 4 primary partitions what can i do?
i was thinking about moving the files in / and /home partitions in win32, then make an extended partition, and remake the reiserfs partitions as logical instead of primary (and put back the files).
the grub bootloader is on the first reiserfs partition.
how can i do that? anyone has a better idea?
i am afraid that if i do that fstab and grub things won't be accessible because pointing to wrong devices and i will have to edit BY HAND everything..
Thanks

That is about the only way to get logical partitions due to the limit of 4 primary partitions. If you need more then you need to create a new extended partition by deleteing one of the primary partitions. Then you can create new logical partitions.
3 primary
1 extended
many logical in the extended partition.

With that out of the way. Swap does not need to be a primary partition. So it can turn swap off ' swapoff ' then delete and create extended partitions from there is room. Then build a new swap partition as logical. Modify /etc/fstab to reflect to drive structure.

Or using a Live CD like Knoppix or Ubuntu or System Rescue CD and use qtparted to modify partitions but there are limits on reisfs. Check out qtparted on the limits.

Copying the info from / and /home to your win32 partition is not the best idea since losing certain permission structures and ownership of the files. What I would do is use a Live CD to tar up the contents of each partition to a tar compressed file. Then restore when new partitions are created and formatted. Again modify /etc/fstab and /boot/grub/grub.conf to reflect new locations. then run grub-install to generate a new grub on the MBR of the drive.

You really can't tar an entire linux distro while it is running since some files are also growing or having data changed. Tar will keep trying to get to the end and will never if it is constantly being modified.

Hope this helps.
Brian1

When you move the partitions around, in addition to editing grub.conf and /etc/fstab, you will probably need to create a new initrd as well.

You DEFINITELY want to have a copy of Knoppix on hand during this procedure. For one, to tar up the partitions in preparation for copy as Brian1 said. But also to rescue yourself if you get something messed up. Backup you existing partition table before modifying it, so if the stinky stuff hits the rotating device, you can recover back to square one and start over.