Over-partitioned my disk; how do I clean it up?

[OlyDLG]

Hi! Trying to achieve a Win7/Kubuntu dual boot situation. Thought I had it, but when I tried to boot into Kubuntu/KDE, it went into GRUB instead (unlike when I did this 3 years ago--on a different comp.--and it did boot straight into KDE). Read about EasyBDC (?), dowloaded that and tried to fix, but I think I just made things worse, so I decided I would just try to start over, but the installer's partitioning tool has just too many options I don't understand. I don't want to make things worse and I don't want to lose my extant Windows install (at least not yet); here's a screen shot of how my disk is reported to be partitioned now:

tinyurl.com/OlyDLGDualBootProb

How do I consolidate my partitions to just the minimum I need for the extant Windows install and one Kubuntu install? And how do I configure things so that when it boots into Kubuntu, it goes straight into KDE?

Existing config details below; thanks!

Kubuntu 13.10, running off a USB DVD ISO, not Wubi, KDE Platform Version 4.11.2
Version: 0.97-29ubuntu66
Description-en: GRand Unified Bootloader (Legacy version)
Windows 7 Home Prem SP1 64-bit also installed
Acer Apire 1 Netbook (no internal Opt Drive)
kubuntu@kubuntu:~$ lscpu
Architecture: i686
CPU op-mode(s): 32-bit, 64-bit
Byte Order: Little Endian
CPU(s): 4
On-line CPU(s) list: 0-3
Thread(s) per core: 2
Core(s) per socket: 2
Socket(s): 1
Vendor ID: GenuineIntel
CPU family: 6
Model: 54
Stepping: 1
CPU MHz: 600.000
BogoMIPS: 3191.70
L1d cache: 24K
L1i cache: 32K
L2 cache: 512K
kubuntu@kubuntu:~$ lspci | grep aphic
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Atom Processor D2xxx/N2xxx Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)
RAM: 4GB
HD: 1 internal, 500MB, Make/model: Uncertain
OD: 1 external, via USB, LG Portable Super-Multi

[Feathers McGraw]

Hi OlyDLG,

The link you posted to your partitioning scheme image isn't working for me, try uploading it to the forum (use "Insert Image" in the toolbar).

Once we can see what you've got we'll be better able to help you.

GRUB is the bootloader, and should be the first thing you see when you boot up. It's what lets you choose whether to boot into Windows or Kubuntu (or any other OS you have installed).

Your old machine that booted into Kubuntu without showing you the GRUB bootloader probably didn't have any other operating systems installed - when this happens you don't see GRUB even though it's used to start up, because there's no choice to make!

If you like, you can configure GRUB to automatically select Kubuntu after a very short period of time, so you get to Kubuntu faster. Was this your aim?

Feathers

[oshunluvr]

OlyDLG: The problem with your screen shot is you set "no delay" and the kscreenshot window doesn't have time to fade because you're using desktop effects. Set kscreenshot to 2 second delay and that won't happen.

As far as your issue: At a glance, your partitioning didn't look abnormal. Modern (after XP) Windows install often have three partitions as it appears yours does. The often recommended Linux "standard" (if there is such a thing) is 3 partitions for Linux: /, /home, swap. I wouldn't hesitate to set yours up this way, but your install won't really care how many partitions you have. However, it is easier for to keep track of what goes where if you have the least amount.

[OlyDLG]

Hi, Feathers, thanks for your reply; the link was used because the forum app wouldn't let me upload the pic, but let me try again now that I've posted:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B56...it?usp=sharing

No, I still can't figure out how to get it to work, but hopefully you can at least see the non-aliased link (and hopefully that'll work for you).

As far as the other part is concerned: I did have another OS installed (Win), but perhaps I had it configured as you describe and just don't remember; regardless, the way you describe would be acceptable...except that when it boots now, it offers me three alternatives--Kubuntu, Windows, Ubuntu, I don't know why the last, but it's acceptable as I wouldn't mind learning the differences between k/ubuntu--and it's after I choose Kubuntu that it goes into GRUB--it's be nice if it only asked me which I want one time. :-)

Thanks again.

Hi OlyDLG,

The link you posted to your partitioning scheme image isn't working for me, try uploading it to the forum (use "Insert Image" in the toolbar).

Once we can see what you've got we'll be better able to help you.

GRUB is the bootloader, and should be the first thing you see when you boot up. It's what lets you choose whether to boot into Windows or Kubuntu (or any other OS you have installed).

Your old machine that booted into Kubuntu without showing you the GRUB bootloader probably didn't have any other operating systems installed - when this happens you don't see GRUB even though it's used to start up, because there's no choice to make!

If you like, you can configure GRUB to automatically select Kubuntu after a very short period of time, so you get to Kubuntu faster. Was this your aim?

Feathers

[OlyDLG]

Hi, oshunluvr, and thanks.

OlyDLG: The problem with your screen shot is you set "no delay" and the kscreenshot window doesn't have time to fade because you're using desktop effects. Set kscreenshot to 2 second delay and that won't happen.

OK; but you're able to see enough of it to get all the info from it, yes?

As far as your issue: At a glance, your partitioning didn't look abnormal. Modern (after XP) Windows install often have three partitions as it appears yours does. The often recommended Linux "standard" (if there is such a thing) is 3 partitions for Linux: /, /home, swap. I wouldn't hesitate to set yours up this way, but your install won't really care how many partitions you have. However, it is easier for to keep track of what goes where if you have the least amount.

So:

0) the "free space"--will that be accessible to both OS'es, or only one, and if so, which one? And which of the plethora of "Types" should it be (or does it matter, and if it doesn't, why are there so many choices)? Same Q for the Ubuntu partition: is ext4 the "right" choice, and why? (In other words, what's with all those different choices for "Type"?)

1) I read about "recovering" the disk space used by the Windows Recovery Environ. (in the link about configuring a dual boot on an Aspire One) and would like to do that; I've created a set of Win restore disks, and am willing to risk that they're "bad," wipe that area, and then not be able to restore it should that come to pass--how exactly do I "pass" that disk space to K/ubuntu?

2) It doesn't matter that some of my disk is partitioned to Ubuntu, but none (explicitly) to Kubuntu?

3) Is 3 Gigs of swap enough?

4) Finally, what should I choose for my boot loader device? (I didn't really understand that whole spiel about that in the wiki.)

Thanks again!

DG

[OlyDLG]

Do people now regard this question as answered? ('Cause the OP does not.)

[Feathers McGraw]

Counting from 0, I like it!

0: the free space isn't being used by either OS. You can create a partition in it, and (depending on the format) you'll be able to access it from windows and *buntu. Windows can't read ext formats by default, so it's probably easiest to use NTFS if you want to be able to read and write to it from windows and Ubuntu. Be aware that NTFS doesn't support file permissions, though. You can edit your /etc/fstab file to automatically mount this new partition under /data in kubuntu or something for convenience if you like. For kubuntu's root filesystem, ext4 is the right choice. Let me know if you'd like help with this.

1: I wouldn't recommend it. I messed around with this when I first installed Ubuntu (used to have 3 windows partitions like you, and wanted to get rid of the one with HP's rubbish in it), in the end I deleted all of those and reinstalled windows, then had to spend hours on the phone to Microsoft about licence keys because I didn't use an OEM install disk etc etc. Not saying it wasn't my fault, just that it was a PITA!

Also, it doesn't fee up much space for the amount of hassle it causes. Windows is funny about being moved around on the disk, too.

I'm unsure about which partitions the install disk would restore, tbh.

2: sometimes Ubuntu appears as kubuntu on the grub menu. I noticed that newer versions of kubuntu (or newer grub, not sure which) identify what kind of *buntu it is much better. Either way, don't worry about it.

3: swap is only ever used if you run out of RAM. In general, you should have between 1x and 2x your RAM available as swap. I have 8GB of RAM and 8GB of swap, and don't think the swap ever gets used much tbh.

4: your bootloader is GRUB, stick with it.

...5: when you say you choose kubuntu on the menu, and THEN it "goes into grub", do you mean it goes into grub RESCUE? The menu where you're choosing which operating system to use is GRUB.

Hope that helps,

Feathers

[OlyDLG]

Thanks again, Feathers!

Counting from 0, I like it!

Of course: I'm a Pythonista -> no other way to count!

0: the free space isn't being used by either OS. You can create a partition in it, and (depending on the format) you'll be able to access it from windows and *buntu. Windows can't read ext formats by default, so it's probably easiest to use NTFS if you want to be able to read and write to it from windows and Ubuntu. Be aware that NTFS doesn't support file permissions, though. You can edit your /etc/fstab file to automatically mount this new partition under /data in kubuntu

Thanks, I'll try this option; I'll repost if I can't figure it out on my own.

1: I wouldn't recommend it.

Too late, already done. Anyone: recommendations in light of this?

3: swap is only ever used if you run out of RAM. In general, you should have between 1x and 2x your RAM available as swap. I have 8GB of RAM and 8GB of swap, and don't think the swap ever gets used much tbh.

OK, I have 4GB phys (and intend to do some high-mem using stuff), so I'll make it 8.

5: when you say you choose kubuntu on the menu, and THEN it "goes into grub", do you mean it goes into grub RESCUE? The menu where you're choosing which operating system to use is GRUB.

OK, then, I assume it's as you describe...assuming it is going into grub RESCUE, what do I do to start KDE?

Thanks again!

DG

[Feathers McGraw]

If it is going into grub rescue, you just see a command line saying grub rescue or something similar. Can you describe what you see?

[OlyDLG]

Yup, a command line w/ "grub>" that responds to help, which displays a long list of commands, incl. boot, which says I need to load a kernel first, and a command kernel, which says I need to provide an absolute path or blocklist, presumably to indicate a kernel-containing executable file.

[Snowhog]

Fixable. See https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gr...roubleshooting

[Feathers McGraw]

Yeah, that's grub rescue. You must have deleted the partition that that option was on. Reinstall grub and that option should disappear!

[OlyDLG]

OK, thanks, both!

[oshunluvr]

Yeah, that's grub rescue. You must have deleted the partition that that option was on. Reinstall grub and that option should disappear!

Any time you wipe an install that was "hosting" grub's files this will happen. I'm often adding and removing various installs so I keep a specific grub install in it's own location and then chain from it to other installs, just to prevent this problem.

[Feathers McGraw]

Don't think you can have a separate /boot partition of you have windows installed though, can you?