I accidentally posted this in the Gibbon section, before realizing I'm trying to install Feisty. Hello I just spent a very long time writing this out very articulately, then accidentally closed the windows with one wrong click. Please forgive me if this isn't that well written. I'm angry. I'm trying to dual-boot with Windows XP. I have a friend who runs Linux on 3 out of his 5 computers (debian on one, Ubuntu with gnome replaced with KDE and I forget the third.) I get as far as resizing IDE1. He wants me to use Guided: resize IDE1 because of my inexperience (which I hope using Linux long enough will cure). I have a relatively small hard drive. 74.5 Gigs. Windows uses up 19.1 Gigs. So I have 55.4 Gigs. I want to give Linux 25 to start, and give it more as need be. On the first resize attempt, I receive the message "Error occured while writing changes to storage device" ( might not be exact). So he has me try manual. I get the same message. Then he has me defrag the drive (it needed it). ALL I've done is defrag. suddenly, the Guided: Resize IDE1 option is gone. Not grayed out, not unelectable, just gone. So I try manual. When I right click on hda1, it displays the file system (NTFS) and the mount point it will be mounted to (/media/hda1) But not the MB. again the resize option is just gone. My other friend is a computer programmer who thinks Linux can't resize the partition because Windows is closed source and Linux open. My Linux friend says he has (literally) resized thousands of Windows partitions using Linux. Seeing as it isn't even an option for me, they both say to get a new hard drive. Then, and this time I've done nothing at all, both options return, but still give me the error message. I've already error-checked the disk. Oh, and as you may have guessed, I have no partition manager on my Windows. Then I realize that along with the installation manager, Kubuntu also comes with QTParted. when I attempt to use this, I receive the message (and this is exact. even the exclamation point and caps. Actually, I'm not sure whether or not it says "in windows".) "NTFS is unstable. Run chkdsk /f in Windows and reboot TWICE!". I do so, except I have to run chkdsk /f in boot-up because "Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts?" Then My Linux friend thinks the file system is mounted. Turns out it's not. Now We have no clue what to do. But I really don't want to have to buy a new hard drive. Please Help.
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Re: Dual-Bott XP partition error
I can see why you are frustrated! These things happen, to almost everyone at times.
If it were me . . .
1 First make sure the install CD is good: The MD5SUMS check and the option on the install CD that says “Check CD for Defects?” I’d make sure my downloaded and burned iso Live CD is good.
2 Then I’d try the partition editor GParted Live CD (not QtParted, which many have reported can be quirky, even damaging). See if GParted sees your HD correctly and if it will do the re-sizing and partitioning editing.
GParted: http://gparted.sourceforge.net/
GParted how-to: http://www.howtoforge.com/partitioning_with_gparted
(Free download – really handy to have on hand as a live CD. I use it for everything – hard drives, thumb drives, external USB hard drives)
An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way. Charles Bukowski -
Re: Dual-Bott XP partition error
I'll try it.Comment
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