Dual XP and Ubuntu and no space to update?

[egruber]

I just installed Ubuntu on a Thinkpad T60 alongside Microsoft XP. I let Ubuntu pick the partition sizes. When I wanted to apply updates I got the following:

Not enough free disk space

The upgrade needs a total of 366M free space on disk '/'. Please free at least an additional 163M of disk space on '/'. Empty your trash and remove temporary packages of former installations using 'sudo apt-get clean'.

Did I do something wrong? Can I correct it?

[merlinus]

Post results of


df -h

Did you use the sliders when at the partitioning screen to set the size of /?

[egruber]

No. I let Ubuntu select the sizes. I did not touch the slider.

[merlinus]

Therein lies your problem.

Meanwhile, you may be able to grow your / partition.P ost results of


sudo fdisk -l
df -hand if possible, a screenshot of gparted.

[egruber]

But I did let it import my docs and settings so I have a volume called 'preload'. I wasn't sure when it asked me, so I said yes.

[egruber]

Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda5 2.3G 2.1G 176M 93% /
tmpfs 1007M 0 1007M 0% /lib/init/rw
varrun 1007M 92K 1007M 1% /var/run
varlock 1007M 0 1007M 0% /var/lock
udev 1007M 156K 1007M 1% /dev
tmpfs 1007M 472K 1006M 1% /dev/shm
lrm 1007M 2.4M 1004M 1% /lib/modules/2.6.28-11-generic/volat

[raymondh]

Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda5 2.3G 2.1G 176M 93% /
tmpfs 1007M 0 1007M 0% /lib/init/rw
varrun 1007M 92K 1007M 1% /var/run
varlock 1007M 0 1007M 0% /var/lock
udev 1007M 156K 1007M 1% /dev
tmpfs 1007M 472K 1006M 1% /dev/shm
lrm 1007M 2.4M 1004M 1% /lib/modules/2.6.28-11-generic/volat

Can you post a screenshot of gparted (to help us visualize) so the forum can recommend/suggest a plan-of-action?

You may have to take some space from XP ... as you can see now with the 93% full.

[egruber]

I attached the screen shot (I hope).

[merlinus]

Given the ntfs preload partition, you do not have much room left. That is why ubuntu had such a small space for itself.

All things being equal, and since you do not have another OS on this hdd, you will probably be best off starting fresh with a new install. This time do not import anything. If you have data that is backed up, you can copy it over later.

If you want suggestions for partitioning, post back.

[egruber]

Can it be done so I have a reasonable amount of space for both XP and Ubuntu? Or is having both really not a good idea. I wouldn't mind a 50/50 split. What do you suggest?

[egruber]

Given the ntfs preload partition, you do not have much room left. That is why ubuntu had such a small space for itself.

All things being equal, and since you do not have another OS on this hdd, you will probably be best off starting fresh with a new install. This time do not import anything. If you have data that is backed up, you can copy it over later.

If you want suggestions for partitioning, post back.

Does that mean I just reinsert the DVD and start the install again, leave the sliders alone, but do NOT import the User settings and docs form xp? So I can still have both?

[merlinus]

Please explain what you mean by, "So I can still have both?"

With a fresh install, you will select use entire disk at the partitioning screen. My suggestion is to allocate 10G for /, 1.5G for /swap, and use the rest for /home. YOu may have to manually specify the sizes of these partitions, and deifinitely to format them as ext3 and their mountpoints (/, /swap, /home).

You can do that by rightclicking on the partitions and using the dropdown menus.

Alternatively, you can follow guides such as this:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowtoPartition

[egruber]

I meant whether I can still have XP and Ubuntu boot on the same machine. If that is feasible, can you suggest how to partition? Or will Ubuntu make the right choices if I do NOT import the Preload volume.

[merlinus]

Do you have xp on a different hdd? I did not see it in the gparted screenshot.

[egruber]

No. It is on the same hard drive. It boots up fine when selected.

[merlinus]

So sda1 is windows, marked preload? And what is sda2?

As things stand, you have but the minimal space for ubuntu. You might try shrinking your windows partition to free up more space.

[qamelian]

Do you have xp on a different hdd? I did not see it in the gparted screenshot.
It appears to be sda1, labelled "preload".

EDIT: Oops! Wasn't quick enough on the draw! :)

[egruber]

What if I just want to delete Ubuntu and return to an XP only HD. Is there a way to do that? Or do I have to start over and reinstall XP and wipe out ubuntu in the process?

[raymondh]

What if I just want to delete Ubuntu and return to an XP only HD. Is there a way to do that? Or do I have to start over and reinstall XP and wipe out ubuntu in the process?

You can use XP's disk management tool to delete the ubuntu partition and then expand the windows partition. You can also use gparted (from the liveCD) to do that. Note, there are 3 ubuntu partitions ... root (/), swap and EXTENDED.

With Ubuntu gone, you'll need to correct the MBR as it has been overwritten by GRUB. Boot into the original XP install disc (not recover disc) > R (for repair) and type fixmbr.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

Or, alternatively, you can pop in the XP install disc and choose to install and reformat the whole drive. That will erase all existing data (including Ubuntu).

Or, you can try to shrink XP and expand Ubuntu using gparted from the liveCD.

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

Back-up your files. Let the forum know if you want to try to shrink-expand instead.

Good luck.

[egruber]

I'll give it some thought. Thanks for all your help!

One more question, because I'm just a little unsure at this point. If I want to share this PC with Ubuntu and XP. Will I have the same issues if I:

1. Wipe the hard disk and reinstall XP.
2. Install Ubuntu.
2a. Do I adjust the sliders or leave them alone?
2b. Assume I do NOT import anything.

Will I then have reasonable space to have both? Or must I adjust the sliders? Or just pick ONE OS and let it go.

Then I promise to leave you alone for today!

[raymondh]

Then I promise to leave you alone for today!

LOL. No worries :)

You have to use the slider (from choosing GUIDED RESIZE) to dictate how much space you want to give Ubuntu and subsequently, how much space you want to leave for XP. If not, you will be left with another 2.3GB Ubuntu set-up.

For your reading/reference:

http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall
http://members.iinet.net/~herman546/index.html
http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed _first.htm

If you want to dictate partitions (i.e. create the partitions prior to installing hence giving you the flexibility, etc.) ...

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=282018&highlight=separate+%2Fdata+partition
http://gparted.sourceforge.net/docs/help-manual/C/gparted_manual.html#gparted-specify-partition-size-and-location

You may want to consider separating your /home from root (/) which gives you the advantage of retaining your settings and config files, etc. should you need to re-install/upgrade versions of your ubuntu. This can be done prior to installiing Ubuntu or even after.

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

If you wish to resize, shrink and extend:

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

Plus, the forum will always be here to help you.

Good luck.

[egruber]

Thanks for passing these along. I guess what threw me was that Ubuntu by default picked such a small partition. The documents you sent were from the Hardy Version and the illustrations show the default partition for Ubuntu to be larger than XP (as much as 70%) and they recommend reducing it with the slider. With Jaunty I left it alone and got a very small space for Ubuntu. Did they change the default for the new release? Or did I miss something?