Partition problem after shrinking using Windows disk management
 

Hello, I am a newbie to Linux who wants to install and dual boot Slackware 14.1 64 bit to my HP Probook 450 G1, which came with Windows 7 installed.

Following online tutorials, I shrank the main Windows partition (It came with 3 partitions: Windows (main), HP Recovery, and HP Tools) to free up 150 GB, which I wanted to use for the Slackware installation. However, after I shrank the partition, it created a new 1 GB NTFS partition called "SYSTEM", which apparently became the boot partition according to cfdisk.

My main problem is, I have tried to use cfdisk to create a new partition for linux, but I cannot create a new partition, as it says the 150GB space is unusable. All the current partitions on my harddrive seem to be primary partitions.

Using cgdisk, it seems that I can create a new partition in the 150GB space, but it gives me a warning message on startup that my harddrive may not be of GPT variety.

Sorry if I have not given you all the information you may need, I would be grateful if you could offer any help with installing Slackware onto this notebook.

Thank you.

p.s. Is there a command for taking screenshots in linux? And also is it possible to put images into posts here? Thanks.

You can use gparted to change the partititon layout.
Does your computer boot into UEFI?

The problem is that you already have 4 primary partitions.
To take screenshot use Alt+PrintScr then paste to Paint.

Do at your own risk!
 

As EDDY1 said, the problem is that you already have 4 primary partitions, the limit in primary partitions. The next problem is that logical partitions need to be put inside an extended partition, which is a primary partition. But you have to delete one of your partitions to make a new extended partition. For example, if you never use either of the HP partitions you could delete one of them. However, there is no warranty with this info, nor am I reccommending any course of action! Only delete a partition at your own risk!

However, there is one alternative. Download and burn a boot CD for a partition management tool, like GParted boot CD, or Ultimate Boot CD, and if HP tools partition has only files stored on it, nothing bootable, copy it to free space on the Windows partition, under some easily recognizable folder, or to a large USB stick, or some other media. Then boot your Boot CD, open Parted Magic/GParted, and delete the partition you are sure is HP tools!!!! Create a new extended partition, and put a new HP tools logical partition (if you really want it still) and new logical Linux partitions inside the extended. Then you move HP tools back in their proper partition in Windows. Again, no warranty comes with this.

Please let us know before you decide on a course of action.

n I would make a backup image of whichever partition I wanted to remove.
I have backed up my recovery partition before & was able to restore that partition & do a factory restore, by placing the image back on the drive, but that was acer pqservice.

Try to always use windows to work in windows stuff. Windows 7 is supposed to be able t shrink and expand partitions correctly.

Try to expand it back.

System, isn't that the 100mb reserved area?

If your system is newish and supports a virtual machine, might use it.


If you want you can create a live usb.

1. If you haven't created your HP system recovery disk, now would be a good time to do so. DO THIS FIRST or else you won't be able to recover Windows 7 if needed.

2. After you have created the recovery disk set, use Windows Partition Manager to remove the recovery and tools partitions.

3. Install Slackware using a single /(root) partition, and a swap partition. Because you're using MBR and a single root, use Ext4 (faster) or JFS (safer). Use cfdisk to create a single Linux 8300 partition and a Linux swap 8200 partition.

Sorry for replying so lately, but your help was great. The problem was, as many of you said, of having 4 primary partitions. I solved the problem in a not so elegant way by formatting the windows partition I had and installing a new windows to a new partition. I deleted both the system and the windows partition, which gave me 2 free partitions to play with (I did not touch the HP partitions), so I was able to install windows into a new partition (with the new installation, I did not get the SYSTEM partition). I later created 2 logical partitions (1 for Slackware and 1 for swap), and installed Slackware to the logical partition. Anyways, thanks for all your replies and help! Although it hasn't been easy using Slackware, it has been quite fun!