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Andy Yankovich wrote:
My questions relates to: http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/feature/11802.html
This article discusses creating separate swap, root, and data partitions to allow for easier installation of a new linux distro, or the re-installation of the existing Linux distro, or trying out a beta version - without the need to backup and reinstall data files. All data files and emulators (such as vmware) would be in a separate partition of its own and could/would remain untouched during future installs.
The above linked article shows two examples of partition table summaries: one with Windows installed on the hard drive and one without the installation of Windows. But in both cases, the article shows a swap partition, three Linux root partitions, and one data partition.
In my case i reinstalled Windows XP in /dev/hda1, Linux swap in /dev/hda2, Linux native in /dev/hda3, and currently have an extended (FAT32) partition in /dev/hda4 of 40 GB in size. (I also
This is simply not possible. Your FAT32 must either be a logical, in which case it is not /dev/hda4, but most likely /dev/hda5, or your FAT32 is a primary, the only type of partition that can be /dev/hda4.
have on Drive D another 80GB hard drive which I want to store some data that is not used currently as well as use it as one of my backups of Drive C Linux and Data.
I can find no way to get an *additional three* partitions in /dev/hda/.
To do that requires reallocating space that is currently allocated.
I have tried Control Center -> YAST2 -> Partitioner as well as using the Install Disc to change Partitioning. Neither allows me to have more than three primary or extended partitions on one hard disk.
Is there a way to create a logical partition on /dev/hda/? How? I have not seen any evidence of a way outside of using Partition Magic. And is Partition Magic usable in SuSE Pro 9.2? Would its creation allow an additional three partitions at some future date by some (unknown to me) method?
You apparently have a rather unusual disk partitioning scheme. That is, you appear to have 4 primary partitions. Only 4 primary partitions are allowed. In order to have any logical partitions, an extended partition must be one of the 4 primaries. Since your disk is fully allocated now, something will have to go in order to create the extended and logical. What needs to be done is open to interpretation, but one possibility relates to your /dev/hda4, or /dev/hda5 if that is really what your FAT32 data partition is. If it is a primary, it must be converted into a logical, changing it from hda4 to hd>4. Several partitioning tools can do this. Once it is a logical, then it needs to be shrunk to free up space for new partitions, leaving you an arrangement something like in section 2.5 of the URL you cited above, or alternatively something like that found at http://lists.suse.com/archive/suse-linux-e/2005-Mar/3043.html. Once the freespace is available, you just need to create the desired combination of new partitions, then procede with your original plan. An alternative method, since you have a 2nd disk, is to backup the content of your FAT32 partition to your other disk, delete the partition that data was on, then repartition the freespace left by its deletion. For multibooting & partitioning generally, see: http://members.ij.net/mrmazda/partitioningindex.html For a handy selection of tools in one place, see: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ The multiplatform partition tool I use can be found at: http://www.dfsee.com/dfsee.htm -- "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:39 NIV Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 Felix Miata *** http://members.ij.net/mrmazda/