Resizing FC2 Partition?

[Red Army]

Hi all, got a question for you.


I have a multi boot system currently, with partitions as follows.

Drive 0.
8gb FAT 32 | Primary (Windows 98SE)
- 33 gb NTFS | Extended Logical (WinXP Pro)
- 33gb ext3(?) | Primary (Fedora Core 2)
- 1.2gb Linux Swap

Drive 1
- 50gb NTFS |Primary (Data only)
- 50gb NTFS |Primary (Data only)
- 100gb NTFS |Primary (Data only)


Now, I realize after the fact that I went a little overboard with the space I gave to the Linux partition, since essentially it will only be used for Java development and some other school work. I would like to be able to resize that 33gb down to about 15 or so, and use the space as another partition. Problem is, I don't know how GRUB will take the size change, placing an NTFS partition between Linux and the SWAP partition. I would also like to ensure that all my files on Drive 1 remain undisturbed (I assume that since it is on a seperate physical drive, that shouldn't be a problem)

So, anyone know how I can shrink my 33gb Fedora partition and either create a new partition from the new unused space or feed it to my NTFS partition? Without disturbing my Windows' Partitions or my Data Disk? Or murdering GRUB?

I am a bit of a newbie when it comes to operating a Linux system (as oppsoed to simply using one) and before about a week ago I was a staunch believer in 1 O/S, 1 Partition, because I always felt so happy when Windows died and took all my files with it.


Thanks.

[imdeemvp]

as far as i know is not safe to resize linux partition, your data may get damaged or lost.

[Red Army]

Well, I don't actually have any data on the linux partition yet. So reformatting it wouldn't be a problem.

Would deleting my Fedora Partition Kill grub though? Currently Grub loads Fedora, or Other (Other being the NT boot loader)

Could I kill the Fedora and Swap partition, add a new NTFS partition, and the Ext3 and swap partitions after that without ending up with an unbootable system?

If you have important data back it up!
I'm not saying this will actually work. In fact it didn't work for me and countless others, but you can always join the growing numbers. Here is a similar thread. Please note crackers comment about not attempting to resize a partition that is mounted.

well, if your just going to reformat everything, you might as well do it cleanly and start from scratch. The main thing is to make sure your windows partition is first. Windows doesn't to play nice. Also, if you search these forums you will find about thirty threads about win/lin dual booting.

[Red Army]

Originally Posted by superbnerd

If you have important data back it up!
I'm not saying this will actually work. In fact it didn't work for me and countless others, but you can always join the growing numbers. Here is a similar thread. Please note crackers comment about not attempting to resize a partition that is mounted.

Important Data where? All my stuff worth saving is on my second harddrive, which I can only assume wouldn't be touched/affected by any operation on the first drive. I would like to save the 98 and XP installs, but thats only so I don't have to go installing them again.

Fedora has only been booted up twice, as I don't need it for another week or so. It can be destroyed, burned, slashed, whatever. I would just have to reinstall it.

Ofcourse, last time I installed Fedora, it mucked up my winXP partition, and I had to dig through Boot.ini on the win98 and fix the partition # through trial and error.

There are some way to "swap" partitions, but you will most certainly loose data if you are a newbie, so it up to you. Whatever you do, backup up you data. You can actually make a copy of the windows partition using partimage or ghost (whatever it called) just in case.