Extra File System With Uninstalled (?) Meerkat

[davesinger]

I had a problem trying to install, then uninstall, drivers for my ATI video controller on my new HP Desktop. (I wasn't able to get dual monitors running with one VGA and one DVI-D, then lost all video...but that's for another forum).
Anyway, long story short, I ended up reinstalling Meerkat 10.10 aside the original Windows 7 but the process seems to have left the original file system (2.6.35-28) intact in (I think) /dev/sda5 wile installing the new (actually 2.6.35-22 as the CD I used was a couple of weeks old).
So now on the 1 Terrabite HDD I have a File System and a second 466 GB File System as well as Windows 7. When the computer boots the grub boot menu reads:

Ubuntu with Linux 2.6.35-22- generic
Ubuntu with Linux 2.6.35-22- generic (recovery mode)
Memory test (memtest86+)
Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)
Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)
Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda2)
Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sda3)
Ubuntu with Linux 2.6.35-28- generic (on /dev/sda5)
Ubuntu with Linux 2.6.35-28- generic (recovery mode) on /dev/sda5)
Ubuntu with Linux 2.6.35-28- generic (on /dev/sda5)
Ubuntu with Linux 2.6.35-28- generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda5)

I tried to clear the grub boot menu by removing 2.6.3528 using the Synaptic Package Manager, but it indicates that the packages are not installed (but I see the files in the 466 GB File System!) and even if install and uninstall 2.6.35-28 the grub boot menu doesn't clear the unwanted entries. I also can't erase the folders and files on 2.6.35-28 because I am not on as root (I'm not yet comfortable with sudo commands if I don't know what I am doing) and am not sure if formatting it (a right click option) is safe.

So, the questions:
How can I remove the 2.6.35-28 files in the 466 GB File System?
How can I remove 2.6.35-28 from the grub boot menu?
Can I format the 466 GB File Systems safely? By right click and select format?
Any good use for the 466 GB File System? As an extra drive? Can I expand one of the other sectors to include it?

Thanks for any help.

[Hedgehog1]

If you would do this from the Ubuntu you plan to keep:


http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/
Follow the instruction on the website and post the results here.

Please press the '#' button when posting and place the the script results between the two 'CODE' tags.


We can walk you through the steps...


The Hedge

:KS

[Dutch70]

Edit: Well, looks like my buddy Hedge beat me to the punch :)
The boot script will give all of the info I asked for and then some.
I just hoped it wasn't needed.

Post a screenshot of your partitions in gparted using the paper clip in the tool bar of your next post.

Also post the output of...

sudo fdisk -l
That is a lower case L in the command.

Do not post a pic of that. Copy & paste the info between [CODE][ /CODE] tags using the # symbol in the toolbar. This keeps the formatting correct.

[Hedgehog1]

Edit: Well, looks like my buddy Hedge beat me to the punch :)

HE HE! Hedgehog fingers are small - but that makes them FAST!!!

The 'typo-matic' Hedge

:KS

[davesinger]

Okay, I downloaded the file and got both text files. Let's see if I can post them. First is RESULTS.txt

Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive in
partition #7 for (,msdos7)/boot/grub.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows 7
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /Boot/BCD /Windows/System32/winload.exe

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /bootmgr /boot/bcd

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 10.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda7: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 10.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda8: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders, total 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 2,048 221,183 219,136 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 224,910 493,111,764 492,886,855 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 1,928,218,624 1,953,523,119 25,304,496 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4 493,113,342 1,928,218,623 1,435,105,282 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 988,801,024 1,899,898,879 911,097,856 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 1,899,900,928 1,928,218,623 28,317,696 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 493,113,344 968,630,271 475,516,928 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 968,632,320 988,801,023 20,168,704 82 Linux swap / Solaris


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 E4422E35422E0D3C ntfs SYSTEM
/dev/sda2 D00C2F240C2F04D6 ntfs OS
/dev/sda3 DEFE5D83FE5D553D ntfs HP_RECOVERY
/dev/sda4: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda5 131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6 ext4
/dev/sda6 6700afb2-4cab-40dc-bb99-52d320dd7c17 swap
/dev/sda7 9b98fc05-9c4b-42e7-8438-5a24459eff3c ext4
/dev/sda8 ebeb05a6-5db6-451c-b459-bf69d04e3d8a swap
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"
error: /dev/sdb: No medium found
error: /dev/sdc: No medium found
error: /dev/sdd: No medium found
error: /dev/sde: No medium found

============================ "mount | grep ^/dev output: ===========================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda7 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)


=========================== sda5/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic root=UUID=131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-28-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic root=UUID=131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set e4422e35422e0d3c
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda2)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d00c2f240c2f04d6
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sda3)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set defe5d83fe5d553d
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

=============================== sda5/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s UUID' to print the universally unique identifier
# for a device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name
# devices that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda6 during installation
UUID=6700afb2-4cab-40dc-bb99-52d320dd7c17 none swap sw 0 0

=================== sda5: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


807.0GB: boot/grub/core.img
558.0GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
513.5GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
523.1GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
807.0GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
544.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic
523.1GB: initrd.img
513.5GB: initrd.img.old
544.2GB: vmlinuz
807.0GB: vmlinuz.old

=========================== sda7/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9b98fc05-9c4b-42e7-8438-5a24459eff3c
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9b98fc05-9c4b-42e7-8438-5a24459eff3c
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9b98fc05-9c4b-42e7-8438-5a24459eff3c
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=9b98fc05-9c4b-42e7-8438-5a24459eff3c ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9b98fc05-9c4b-42e7-8438-5a24459eff3c
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=9b98fc05-9c4b-42e7-8438-5a24459eff3c ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9b98fc05-9c4b-42e7-8438-5a24459eff3c
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos7)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 9b98fc05-9c4b-42e7-8438-5a24459eff3c
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set e4422e35422e0d3c
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda2)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos2)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set d00c2f240c2f04d6
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Windows Vista (loader) (on /dev/sda3)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set defe5d83fe5d553d
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic (on /dev/sda5)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic root=UUID=131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-28-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda5)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-28-generic root=UUID=131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-28-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic (on /dev/sda5)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda5)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos5)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=131e7c16-0de2-4c3d-9fc3-1a350b2696b6 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

=============================== sda7/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s UUID' to print the universally unique identifier
# for a device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name
# devices that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=9b98fc05-9c4b-42e7-8438-5a24459eff3c / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda8 during installation
UUID=ebeb05a6-5db6-451c-b459-bf69d04e3d8a none swap sw 0 0

=================== sda7: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


291.2GB: boot/grub/core.img
274.1GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
253.4GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
291.2GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
253.4GB: initrd.img
291.2GB: vmlinuz
=======Devices which don't seem to have a corresponding hard drive==============

sdb sdc sdd sde

Then the results of sudo fdisk -l


david@david-HP-Pavilion-P6000-Series:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 121601 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x552ca64f

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 14 109568 7 HPFS/NTFS
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary.
/dev/sda2 15 30695 246443427+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 120027 121602 12652248 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4 30695 120027 717552641 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 61551 118264 455548928 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 118264 120027 14158848 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 30695 60295 237758464 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 60295 61551 10084352 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Partition table entries are not in disk order
david@david-HP-Pavilion-P6000-Series:~$

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Dutch70]

Yepp, looks like you've installed Ubuntu twice.

/dev/sda4 493,113,342 1,928,218,623 1,435,105,282 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 988,801,024 1,899,898,879 911,097,856 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 1,899,900,928 1,928,218,623 28,317,696 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 493,113,344 968,630,271 475,516,928 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 968,632,320 988,801,023 20,168,704 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Post a pic of Gparted with the paper clip in the toolbar and we'll be able to help you get it straightened out.

Looks like you'll have to delete sda5 & sda6, but I can tell more from a screenshot of Gparted.

[davesinger]

Here it is. Learning new things today.

[Dutch70]

How much physical RAM do you have, your swap partition only needs to be equal to your RAM, slightly larger if you want.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwapFaq (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwapFaq)

Edit2: This is assuming you want to keep your latest install. :)
And of course back ups kind of go without saying nowadays.

It's fairly easy to create a swap partition, so I think you would be better off to delete sda5, sda6 & sda8. Then extend sda7 to fill all but the amount of space you want to use for swap. Then create the swap partition. I believe you can create swap first if you shrink it from the left side. That may be easier for you to get it to the size you want.

Once you get your new swap partition created you'll need to edit fstab with your new UUID, we'll help you with that when you get to it.

Edit: You can't modify partitions while they are mounted, you may need to do this from the live cd/usb, or you may be able to do it by right clicking your mounted swap partition in gparted & select "swapoff".

Alternatively you can just delete sda5 & sda8. Then shrink sda6 to the size you want it. You'll still have to change the UUID in fstab. Also, keep in mind that the partition numbers (as in sdaX) will change as you delete them. ie..if you delete sda5, sda8 will become sda7. I think I said that right...lol.

[davesinger]

Okay, time to PANIC. I hope not, I'll just stay calm.

Using GParted I deleted sda8 first. You were right, I had to right click and select swapoff first. I could not delete sda6 or sda5 right then - I got a message saying that higher numbered drives must be unmounted first. So after completing the deletion, I exited and booted from my live CD. From there I was able to delete sda6 and sda5 (Just in case, I had made a note of the sizes so I know I got the right ones). Then I exited GParted and shut down.

I then rebooted, or rather tried to reboot. No grub menu, just an error message - "error: no such partition" and a prompt "grub rescue>"

I'm now back on the live CD. What do I do now? Would it be easier to just delete all of the non-NTFS partitions and start over or am I not lost yet?

I made a print screen of the GParted screen here.

[Dutch70]

LOL, you're not lost yet bro. Stay calm. Run the following command & paste the contents of gedit into your next post. Between code tags please.

gksudo gedit /etc/fstab

Also, open gparted, right click on what sda5 & select infomation, copy and paste the UUID into your next post also.

Edit: I probably asked for this before I needed it, go on to my next post.

[Dutch70]

To get your system booting again. From the live cd/usb run the following commands.


sudo mount /dev/sda5 /mnt


sudo grub-install --root-directory=/mnt /dev/sda

[davesinger]

Not much to show, here it is.


aufs / aufs rw 0 0
tmpfs /tmp tmpfs nosuid,nodev 0 0

Let's see if I'm learning anything here. I see the / that was in sda7 (now sda5) is missing and I see no swap partition. Anything important in those observations?

[Dutch70]

Not much to show, here it is.


aufs / aufs rw 0 0
tmpfs /tmp tmpfs nosuid,nodev 0 0

Let's see if I'm learning anything here. I see the / that was in sda7 (now sda5) is missing and I see no swap partition. Anything important in those observations?

Yes, we're going to have to recreate your swap partition and edit fstab, just breathe deeply & take it one step at a time. :) Even if we hit a bit of a road block, we've got back up!!!

I realize it's a tedious procedure if you've never done it before, but after you do it once, you'll realize it's not that bad at all. Of course, anytime you're messing with partitions, things can go wrong. They usually don't.

[davesinger]

Moving along. That fixed the boot loader (phew), now there is the matter of the swap partition.

The link Hedgehog1 sent essentially said this:


In terminal:
sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/512Mb.swap bs=1M count=512
sudo chmod 600 /mnt/512Mb.swap
Then:
sudo mkswap /mnt/512Mb.swap
Then:
sudo swapon /mnt/512Mb.swap
Then:
gksudo gedit /etc/fstab
Opens gedit - Add this line at the end of the file:
/mnt/512Mb.swap none swap sw 0 0
And save. After the next reboot the swap will be used automatically.

I have 5 Gigs ram so I am guessing that instead if 512MB I would enter either 11264MB or 11GB and instead of count=512 it would be count=11265. That is if I have done my math correctly.

Then the grub boot menu.

[davesinger]

And filling up that unallocated space. I guess I'll want to combine the unallocated space that was sda5, sda6, and sda8 after using some for the swap partition. Some other time I can learn to reassign it to windows use.

[Dutch70]

you would want 5GB + about 10% if you want to be sure you can hibernate successfully. It's actually not a necessity at all if you don't want to hibernate, but it's a good idea.

It's not double the size of RAM, unless you have very little RAM...as in 512MB.

After you create that you have a lot of options, so let's do that first.

[davesinger]

So I want, say 6 GB to use round numbers and be extra safe. I can afford it.
"/mnt/512Mb.swap" appears to be a file name? So I'm guessing that the 512Mb part is arbitrary? Could I use "/mnt/6Mb.swap"? How about the "bs=1M" and "count=512" (and "600") parts of the sudo command?

[Dutch70]

6GB is fine, I have no idea what the rest of your post means.

[davesinger]

I mean "/mnt/6Gb.swap" as the arbitrary file name. If I understand it that is.

[Dutch70]

I'm not familiar with anything like that. Never even heard of it. Unless who/where ever you got that from responds. I'd just forget it.

[davesinger]

Okay, I went back and read the link detailing how to set up a swap file...
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwapFaq
It only tells how to set up a 512 Mb file, so I attempted to extrapolate the information for a 6 gig swap file.
Rather than naming the file "/mnt/512Mb.swap" I named it "/mnt/6Gb.swap"
Rather than "count=512" I entered "count=6144" (6144Mb = 6GB)
After completing the process I rebooted and ran GParted. It doesn't show a swap file, did I create it incorrectly?

It's getting late, so I'll worry about the unallocated space and grub boot menu later.