Partition Magic help

Question

I want to install Ubuntu on a new partition of my hard drive on my XPS 400. My hard drive is 250GB and I have over 200GB free space. I do not want to wipe out the installation of XP MCE or personal data now on C:, which is formatted as NFTS.
I tried to use Norton Partition Magic 8.0 but I cannot create a new partition, using either the Wizards or Partition Tasks.
When I click on the (Cin the Disk Map and then use a Wizard, I get this message
"The selected disk contains one or more partitions which cannot be moved. To complete the task use the Operations menu rather than a wizard."
But "Create Partition" on the Operations menu is greyed out.
I already have four "Primary" parts (for want of a better word) of the hard drive indicated on the Partition Magic Disk Map. One is my C:\ drive (described as Active). The other three are described as "Status--None" and apparently "Hidden" since their "Partition" is indicated by an asterisk. Two of these come from Dell (I gather they are System Recovery and Diagnostics), and there is an "Unallocated" one (about 50MB), which when I try to delete (or change to Logical), I am told there is a program is running from that partition and it cannot be deleted (Error 38).

Can anyone help me create a new partition?
It is not necessary that I use Partition Magic, but I would like a procedure that is simple and not overwrite my existing C:\ drive.
As mentioned, my purpose is to install Ubuntu on a new partition. I already have WinXP Home on the hard drive, but do not want to replace it or lose the other data.
P.S. If there is a prior thread that answers my question, please refer me.

B_Coppins · Answer

I've never actually used Ubuntu Linux, but if it's anything like every other release of Linux, you should be able to boot off the CD and when it starts the install of Ubuntu you should be able to pick and choose your partition and how big and where it is on the hard drive.

I use SuSe Linux btw.

GreyMack · Answer

There are several issues to consider. Many/most Dell systems are currently shipped with a customized MBR, a "hidden" Dell Utility/Diagnostics partition, a C: partition (and perhaps also a D: partition), a "hidden" partition for the restore utility and the as-shipped image for the Dell PC Restore feature, and content in HPA for the Dell Media Direct feature.

There are various limitations imposed by both standard and proprietary features that define the original, as-shipped hard drive configuration, and I am only aware of some, and the following is only my limited understanding of some of these issues, not fact.

One standard limitation is that only four primary partitions may be created on a single hard disk drive. Additional partitions may only be created if at least one primary partition is defined as an extended partition, upon which logicalv drives (partitions) may be created. Bootability normally requires a primary partition, but booting from an extended partition may be possible under certain circumstances, and evidently there is also a way to boot from HPA.

The Dell Utility partition, containing Dell Diagnostics, uses little space but does consume one primary partition, although it is "hidden". Dell Diagnostics may alternatively be run from a Dell-supplied CD or from downloads installed to floppy, CD, or the hard drive in some cases. If you need to remove it from the hard drive to reclaim a primary partition for other purposes, verify these alternatives and your capability for running Dell Diagnostics.

The C: partition is of the primary type, and few options are available for adjustment other than size, although there may be some convoluted possibilities. It occurs to me that any operating system could be installed on another bootable hard drive and you could use the BIOS to select which disk drive to boot from. I know that may be a bit less convenient than using a boot loader, but it does add four more primary partition slots, if I'm not mistaken. Don't quote me, but that's how I installed and currently run Linux.

Several users have recently reported that a trial version of Ghost has been included with their new system, with a D: partition already set up. I don't know how this is configured. It need not be a botable primary partition, but is presumably recorded in the MBR, and reportedly there is a method of uninstalling Ghost, removing that partition, and incorporating the space in the C: partition, presumably altering the custom MBR without breaking/disabling the Dell PC Restore feature. Go figure.

The Dell PC Restore feature has some severe limitations in both compatibility and reliability. It will become disabled by any change to the MBR, and lost entirely in some circumstances, so it is a prime candidate for replacement anyway. Before adjusting the hard drive partitioning, you should decide whether to keep this feature and determine how to repair it if you wish to use it later. Repair may require returning the system partitioning to it's original configuration and then restoring the custom MBR before running it, but that may be rather inconvenient. It may be possible to modify the feature to work with altered partitioning, but that requires some work also. Imaging software might be used to provide the ability to restore an image of the as-shipped configuration of the C: partition plus a lot more capability and compatibility.

If your system includes the Dell Media Direct feature, which reportedly resides in HPA, you may need to repair or reinstall it after making adjustments. I'm not certain of it's requirements. I don't immediately suspect it is incompatible with adjustments to the hard drive partitioning in non-HPA of the hard drive, but the 50MB reported as unpartioned space may be related to this feature, particularly if that space is at the end of the reported drive space, immediately prior to the unreported HPA, which I believe is always located at the end of the hard drive, when it is used. The downloadable repair utility and the Dell-supplied reinstall CD should both be obtained and saved for any future need, such as this project, or replacement of the hard drive.

B_Coppins is correct of course, regarding the installation of Linux, but the impact to existing features is questionable.

GM

Message Edited by GreyMack on 07-20-200601:20 PM

Windows General

Partition Magic help

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