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View Full Version : [ubuntu] Converting a Primary Partition Into a Logical & Dual Booting Windows & Ubuntu



Sache
August 7th, 2011, 03:09 PM
Hi, I need help with dual booting Windows 7 and Ubuntu on a HP dv6 laptop. The problem is that there are already four primary partitions installed on the harddrive, so I can't create an extended partition to put my logical partitions in.

200MB - System
572GB - Windows
23.5GB - Recovery
100MB - HP Tools

From other posts that have expressed similiar concern I have concluded that most people just wants to backup and erase HP Tools. Though I hate HPs built in stuff and would just like to reinstall Windows, I'm afraid that I would lose important drivers, and would have a hard time updating them after reinstallation. So I would not like to erase HP Tools but is it possible to convert the Windows partition to a logical so I can create more logical partitions? I found a program, Partition Wizard, that should be able to do it but I don't know for sure and don't want to try out blindly.

I would also gladly hear what you have to say about the setup I'm planning to use.

/dev/sda1 ntfs 200 MB - System
/dev/sda2 extended
/dev/sda3 ntfs 23.5 GB - Recovery
/dev/sda4 fat32 100 MB - HP Tools
/dev/sda5 ntfs 150 GB - Windows
/dev/sda6 ext4 50 GB - Ubuntu
/dev/sde7 swap 8 GB - Swap
/dev/sda8 ntfs 364 GB - Share

The Share will be used for accessing all my data from both Windows and Ubuntu. It is going to be backed up to a portable drive using Déjà Dup.

At first I was going to have root and home separate but one of my friends, who is an avid linux user, thought it was not necessary since I was going to have my stuff in Share anyway.

Thanks in advance!

oldfred
August 7th, 2011, 05:29 PM
I would not move a windows install to a logical partition. It would work since you are booting from a primary, but if you ever damaged the boot/recovery partition, you could not easily then repair the main partition to boot. We have had many users delete the sda1 boot/recovery and then could just fix sda2 to boot. Windows will not directly boot from a logical partition.

Good advice on how to handle all four primary partitions used. - srs5694
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1686440
Be sure to create recovery DVD(s) first. And a Windows repair CD.
HP tools partition discussion:
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware/Hp-Tools-Partion/td-p/228360
Shrinking a Windows 7 partition is best done in Windows. But do not create new partitions with Windows.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/resize-a-partition-for-free-in-windows-vista/