Switching to Ubuntu from Windows 8 on a Samsung Laptop

[oldfred]

I think the OP installed with encrypted /home. Then swap is not seen by partition tools as it looks like unformatted space and the dev/mapper is swap.

I also suggest not to rush into deleting Windows. A fair number of users come back and have one application that really only works in Windows and they want to re-install it. It took me about 5 years before I totally weaned myself off Windows.

The only partitions that are Windows are the Windows recovery or repair on sda1, msftres on sda3 & the main Window install on sda4. Probably sda5 is the Vendor recovery which would let you reinstall Windows. Both Ubuntu & Windows use the efi partition so you cannot delete it.
Microsoft suggested partitions including reserved partition for gpt & UEFI:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...8WS.10%29.aspx
Older Windows info on gpt - 2008 updated 2011
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/wind.../gg463525.aspx

[fantab]

I think the OP installed with encrypted /home. Then swap is not seen by partition tools as it looks like unformatted space and the dev/mapper is swap.

I missed it.

Thanks...

[uhhhnoakes]

Well, I made the switch completely and I love it! I have no use for Windows on this laptop (I have 3 other computers for different purposes so I'm not concerned about any Windows/Mac only programs)

Below is a picture of what my HD looks like now... I would like to increase the space in my main partition so I can put some music and movies on there without using up my 30GBs. Do I need to use my USBkey to do this?

GParted.jpg

[fantab]

You can put all your Music, Movies, etc on the /dev/sda5 and lets call it DATA Partition. By default this partition will not be mounted, ie, made available for system. You can either mount it manually by clicking on that partition from File Explorer, Nautillus. or You can automount it with Ubuntu boot by adding its entry in /etc/fstab. I use the former method. I don't like it to be mounted all the time, just when I want/need it.

You can create folders in the Partition like, MyMUSIC, myMovies etc then create a 'symlink' in your Home folder. You can access all your Music from Home folder. The 'symlink' will only work if the Partition is mounted.

Here is how you create symlinks it:

ln -s /path/to/the/folder /location/of/the/link

To make the Data partition mount with system boot you have edit the /etc/fstab... more instructions:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Fstab
http://www.tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/fstab.html
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=283131

Then you can place symlinks as show above or http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2145037 (Read Kopkins' post)

You can also use 'bind' but I can't help you with that in detail.

[uhhhnoakes]

I mounted the sda5 but when I go to drag any files in there it tells me I do not have permission...

[oldfred]

Ownership & permissions in Linux are important.
Are you mounting with fstab or manually?

Understanding fstab
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/mountlinux
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Mount/
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FilePermissions
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Fstab


#if not known to list partitions, change sda5 to your data partition or create multiples with different mount points
# is comment, do not type; also ownership & permissions of NTFS is only set with the defaults you set as you mount it with fstab or manually, NTFS does not support ownership and permissions.
sudo fdisk -l
sudo mkdir /mnt/data
sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt/data
#where sda5 needs to be your drive, partition
sudo chmod -R a+rwX,o-w /mnt/data
# Note that the -R is recursion and everything is changed, do NOT run on any system partitions.
#All directories will be 775.
#All files will be 664 except those that were set as executable to begin with.
sudo chown $USER:$USER /mnt/data

For permanent mount with fstab - both NTFS & ext4 examples:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1983336
Mount & edit fstab from Morbius1 - suggest using templates instead. Post #6

[uhhhnoakes]

Is there a reason to not increase the sda2 partition, or is that even possible? I'm reading up on the links you posted, thank you, they're a bit complicated though (I'm very new at this)

[fantab]

No, you don't need more than you have. The idea is to separate 'system' files and your data.

With regards to permissions and mounting, I think oldfred has covered everything.
The simplest way is to to mount the partition and run:

sudo chown -R username /path/to/mounted/partitions
(you can determine the path from Nautilus by rightclicking, select properties and look at location) In your case, the most likely path will be /media/username/partitionname

[uhhhnoakes]

Ok awesome thanks for the help! I have a lot to learn still. I should see if there are any Ubuntu Challenged Support Groups in my area

Thanks all!

[uhhhnoakes]

Well, I just did an update and now when I boot up it says disconnected from Plymouth then goes to a black screen. I tried hitting shift at boot the e to edit and placing nomodeset the f10 but it takes me to the same place.... What happened when I updated?