Question on merging partitions

[thirdeye420]

Hey everyone,

I got my PC setup so I can dual boot windows xp and ubuntu. Well, I never use my windows partition anymore, so I was thinking it would be nice to wipe that partition out and merge it with ubuntu so I have more HD space. Just wondering if someone out there could point me in the right direction on how to approach doing this.

thanks

[raymondh]

Hey everyone,

I got my PC setup so I can dual boot windows xp and ubuntu. Well, I never use my windows partition anymore, so I was thinking it would be nice to wipe that partition out and merge it with ubuntu so I have more HD space. Just wondering if someone out there could point me in the right direction on how to approach doing this.

thanks

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/larry/resize/resizing.htm
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=282018&highlight=separate+%2Fdata+partition
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/gparted.html

When you installed Ubuntu, it (GRUB) overwrote unto the MBR. You may have to re-install GRUB. If so :

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GrubHowto
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351&highlight=fsck

Back up first.

Good luck.

[thirdeye420]

alright, I managed to format the partition that had windows xp on it to ext 2 (same as my linux partition). how do i merge the 2 partitions? I'd like it to be one big partition instead of 2.

[raymondh]

Hello thirdeye420,

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowtoPartition#head-f2515acc4fa3a5b463d5a79bb834ded1f3daae4e

As always .... back-up your files.

Do you want to do a straight-up merge using terminal? If so, read this tutorial :

http://www.howtoforge.com/linux_resizing_ext3_partitions_p3

Another option is using gparted from liveCD (in live session mode), and, am ssuming you originally had a windows + ubuntu install (with Ubuntu installed after windows)

See this link for reference

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/larry/resize/resizing.htm

1. Right click SWAP and swap-off
2. Click and delete the "old-windows-partition-that-is-now-formatted-in-ext2" and keep it unallocated
3. Click on the original ubuntu partition > resize > drag slider to take up all the unallocated/free size.

You may need to reinstall GRUB. If so, here's a link/tutorial:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=224351

A third option is to wipe everything clean and do a clean re-install. If you do, I recommend you consider establishing a separate /home.

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/separatehome

Good luck.

[thirdeye420]

well i was succesful in getting the partitions merged and the MBR updated. My only problem now is that the boot prompt still appears on start up (screen that allows you to choose to bbot win xp or ubuntu). how do I make that disappear?