Merging Harddrive Partitions

josegata · 05-12-2006, 08:16 AM

How to i free some space from the swap partition(/dev/hda3) and allocate it to the main linux partition(/dev/hda4).
Also how do i free some space from a linux partition(/dev/hda2) that is not mounted and allocate it to the main linux partition(/dev/hda4)?

bigrigdriver · 05-12-2006, 12:49 PM

The easiest way to do that (easiest, as in, least amount of work, fewest problems to deal with) would be to make a full backup of hda2 and hda4. Store the backup somewhere else (not in hda2 or hda4), if those partitions contain an operating system you want to keep.

Then use that operating system's installation media to do a minimal installation. Delete hda2, hda3, and hda4. Then make new hda2, hda3, and hda4. Make the minimal installation. Then restore the full backups of hda2 and hda4.

jlinkels · 05-12-2006, 06:30 PM

Bigrigdriver I agree with you that this is simple. Despite of all those fancy tools it is easy what you propose.

However, why do you suggest a new install of the OS. Wouldn't it suffice if you use a live CD, and then do what you say except reinstalling the OS? After all, you are not messing with the MBR, only partitions.

jlinkels