Hello

To replace my aging hard-disk, I bought a new, bigger disk to hold two NTFS partitions (system + data) to run XPSP3.

Unless I missed it, PartClone in Clonezilla doesn't resize a partition to use the extra space. So I now need to resize the second partition.

Since NTFS is a proprietary filesystem, before I go ahead and use Gparted or some alternative, can experienced users confirm that resizing NTFS partitions using Linux tools is rock-solid, or I better use a closed-source, Windows-based solution instead? If Linux-based tools are fine, which would you recommend?

Thank you.

If I were you, I'd rather opt-out for a more mature Windows-based application (Partition Magic?) to do that kind of task, especially if we are talking about an NTFS hard drive that already has a Windows system installed on it.

I can only say that based on my experience with GParted that broke quite a few things many times I used. Now I didn't really care - I had a copy of the data backed up and did not mind to reinstall the OS, but in your case I wouldn't use GParted. Good luck!

If you have room clone your drive before you try gparted.

I've used gparted on many occasions (all on NTFS partitions) and have never had a problem. That doesn't mean you will not have problems, that's why I would recommend cloning your drive if possible.

gparted is just a front-end - to libparted and ntfsresize in this case. A very good one; I use it a lot.
I haven't had any issues with resizing NTFS in years using ntfsresize; so much so I generally don't even bother to back-up unless the partition is particularly valuable.
Until Win7, I avoided windoze (native) tools completely. The resize there works fine too - online.

That said, moving NTFS is always a pain. I too always re-install a Windoze system partition rather than attempt to move it.
The folks that make ntfsresize also have ntfsclone - here is the doco. Take particular note of the comments under "Copy, move or restore Windows".

Thanks guys for the feedback. I'll take the chance, boot up with a live USB that has Gparted/ntfsresize, and give it a shot.