Partition Magic won't resize

[benb]

Hello,

I'm not sure where this post should go, so if it's in the wrong place, admins please move it.

My problem is that I am trying to install a new operating system using Powerquest PartitionMagic 8. When I press next in the new OS wizard, an error message, "The selected disk contains one or more partitions which cannot be moved. To complete the task use the Operations menu rather than a wizard" pops up. I have a Dell Dimension 8400 with a 160 gig HD. PM shows me 4 partitions, "DELLUTILITY (*.) FAT", "Local Disk (C:\) NTFS", "(*) Unallocated", and "Local Disk (*.). I should only have, or shall I say, only use one partition, the main C:\. Anybody know what is causing this? Screenshot attached.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Your post is perfectly fine here :)

First a question (it is a bit difficult to see exactly what you were trying to do from the screenshot): were you trying to create a primary (bootable) partition, or a secondary data partition?

If you were creating a secondary partition, you must first create an "extended partition", which in turn can contain a number of "real" secondary partitions. These can then be addressed with drive letters, such as D:.

See here for a snapshot of my HD layout.

The pink partitions WIN-XP and WIN2K-J are bootable primary partitions.

The light blue partitions are extended partitions that contain multiple logical secondary partitions.

Now in your case it appears as if you had only one large primary partition. You need first to resize that partition to make room for an additional primary or extended partition.

Make sure that you defrag your current C: drive first.

Also, if you have any important data on your disk, be sure to backup them beforehand. Partition Magic is usually safe, but as -pops- wrote in the other thread, things may and will sometimes go wrong.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Re-reading your post I understand now that you need a new primary partition (new OS).

Resize your current partition into roughly half (or whatever you'll need - you can always resize again later), then create a new primary partition in the empty space. To install the new OS, hide your current C: drive and reboot. You will see your new partition as an empty C: drive.

If you use BootMagic as boot manager, you will not see the other C: drive when booted into one or the other. I usually create one or more shared data partitions that both systems can see. (That also is something you can add later if the need arises).

P.S. [added] if you do not want to use BootMagic but Windows' own boot manager, then you don't hide the C: drive. Windows installer will then recognize the empty partition and install it there. In this case, both partitions will be visible all the time.

But I do not know what new OS you want to install, so this PS is mere speculation.

[benb]

I am trying to install Linux, and I don't have BootMagic, although it doesn't matter because Linux comes with bootloader. Thanks for the quick reply :) Part of my problem though is that it won't let me resize the partition. It does the same error-like thing that is shown in the screenshot. After some Googling, I believe that PM limits you to 4 partitions on one HD (is this correct?). Also what do you mean by "hide the C:\ drive"? On the note of backup, I went out a got some DVD+RW today... Thanks for all the help.

[benb]

Turns out I am a complete idiot.... heh heh. Anyways I was clicking on the graphical representation of C:\, not the text below. Now it will let me resize... Say I only give Windows 20 gigs, and Linux 120, and say Windows runs out of space, could I give part of the Linux partition (unused space of course) to Windows pretty much hassel-free?

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

... Also what do you mean by "hide the C:\ drive"?

It's a PartitionMagic function, you can "hide" a drive for multi-booting with BootMagic. Don't hide it when you don't use BootMagic.

As for the "complete idiot"; my PM works both ways - clicking on the graphical bar, as well as the text line. I use the original PM from PowerQuest - maybe you have the "improved" version by Symantec...?

Anyway, good luck with your installation!

[benb]

Well, it doesn't really matter. So far I have succesfully resized the partition WOO HOO! :) Do you know why I have to restart twice? The first time it actually does things, the second time Windows complains about having installed drivers and needs to restart again for it to work.

[benb]

Another stupid question :P So I have it saying 48 gigs unallocated, do I right click it and create a partition, or do I just install Linux on that unused space?

Edit: Linux needs 2 (I think) partitions to run, one swap and one main. What do I do about that?

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Well, it doesn't really matter. So far I have succesfully resized the partition WOO HOO! :) Do you know why I have to restart twice? The first time it actually does things, the second time Windows complains about having installed drivers and needs to restart again for it to work.

Congrats!! PM cannot do certain things when Windows is running, so it needs to do it before booting. When Windows comes back, it realizes that things have changed, and prefers to reboot to make sure it gets everything right. It is not really necessary to reboot, but to be on the safe side...

As for Linux, I do not really know anything about it. I *think* it may recognize the empty space and offer to format it and install in it (Windows does), but I cannot be sure.

Try it, or wait until someone with Linux knowledge gets up...