Your request shouldn't be too difficult but likely will require additional hardware (not very expensive).
How about a little background information?
Is the "current" system an entirely "new" (physical) computer or did you "upgrade" your existing computer? It sounds like this is a new unit that came pre-installed with Windows 7.
Is this new system a desktop or a laptop?
What is the make and model of the system? If built from scratch, what is the motherboard make and model?
Where is your "old" system? Do you still have the "old" hard drive?
Computer Type: PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number: (7 different computers booting up to 10 systems) OS: Linux Mint / XP / Win7 Home, Pro, Ultimate / Win8.1 / Win10 Other Info: Four desktops, two laptops, one notebook and one tablet
Yes Allen. We need more info from you.
Have you now got W7 on a partition and wish to create 3x30GB partitions for Linux distros?
Sp you would end up with a quadruple boot?
By the way, we could do with a favourite recipe thread in chillout
If you go to the start menu and open it then click control panel/administrative services/computer management you will open the Computer Management box.
Then click Disk Management in the left hand column and you should get something like this.
Use the snipping tool (start menu/accessories) to take a picture of it and post it for us.
You apparently were double/triple booting before and are familiar with that kind of setup. (I prefer not to do that because I do not like to wrestle with the Grub - LOL). But if you want your original setup back, I suggest you shrink the 286GB partition (which I assume is your C partition) to gain the necessary free space for your additional partitions (sounds like you ned 90GBs for those). That can be done with Disk Management.
I do not understand why you want "freespace". With Disk Management, you can probably only shrink about 140GBs or less off C. If you want to shrink C more, then you need different tools. Let us know if that is what you want.
In the freespace you gained, you can allocate the 3 new partitions. Just make sure you make those extended/logical partitions and NOT primaries. Since you already have 3 primaries, you would get stuck if you allocated a 4th primary because 4 primaries is the maximum allowed.
System Manufacturer/Model Number: HP, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba - 4 laptops and 2 desktops OS: Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8 CPU: from 1.6GHz Duo to i7 Monitor(s) Displays: 2x HP w2207 Keyboard: with trackball - no mices Mouse: Trackball mice Hard Drives: 5x HDD, 7x SSD, 12x Externals Internet Speed: DSL 6000
If the 'boot' partition is Windows, have a look at this info so you can post a snip of disk management for us to look at before you go too far with anything.
Note
In the Windows start menu right click computer and click manage, in the left pane of the "Computer Management" window that opens click disk management and post a snip of that.
OK, been here and done this too many times over the past decade. After trying numerous methods, I found that adhernig to MISS and KISS really is the best:
Make It Stupid Simple and Keep It Stupid Simple
Sure, using a VM is the sexy way but the simple, foolproof way is:
> Add a second physical drive JUST FOR YOUR LINUX distributions, then
> Use your computer BIOS / startup menu to boot to the Linux drive when desired.
> Latest option I use: burn my Linux to a 16GB flash drive and boot to the flash drive
No potential problems with Windows or Linux re: boot sectors, etc.
Set up the free space on the Windows "drive" as an NTSF partition just for storage and make accessable to Windows and Linux.
These are the reasons I requested more info - to help formulate an appropriate approach.
(One of my rigs uses four hard drives and boots to eight operating systems, sometimes more!)
Computer Type: PC/Desktop System Manufacturer/Model Number: (7 different computers booting up to 10 systems) OS: Linux Mint / XP / Win7 Home, Pro, Ultimate / Win8.1 / Win10 Other Info: Four desktops, two laptops, one notebook and one tablet
Talk about an active forum!! well let me see if I can answer the questions:It is a new unit Toshiba L670, 320 GB HD, 4.00 GB, 64 bit P 520 2.30GHz
Yes I still have my old HP on line infact.
Out box this has 3 primary Capacity Used Unused
System NTFS 1.46 GB 190.96MB 1.28.GB
CT1105838 NTFS 286.59 38.05 GB 248.54
Recovery NTFS 10.03GB 9.44GB 610.95MB
Above taken after clicking Partition Wizard
I am still on line with old because I have 2 active web sites I created. and transfering them is another chore I do not look forward to. Talk about being behind the time I did them in front page New Page 1 Home Page
In case anyone is interested
To restate my needs, I want an extended with 3 logical for 3 different linux OS
Anyone and everyone help appreciated.
System Manufacturer/Model Number: HP, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba - 4 laptops and 2 desktops OS: Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8 CPU: from 1.6GHz Duo to i7 Monitor(s) Displays: 2x HP w2207 Keyboard: with trackball - no mices Mouse: Trackball mice Hard Drives: 5x HDD, 7x SSD, 12x Externals Internet Speed: DSL 6000
I thought I gave you that in my text format because that generated snip is beyon this old head. Sorry about that I even lostability to PRTSC in 7 or at least I cannot find it. Not giving up but seems as if I was better of without this new machine with all bells and whistles. But I will attempt to comply.
The snipping tool is in All Programs > Accessories - just pin it to the taskbar. Then it is handy. There are fancier tools like Jing that you can program to e.g. F9 or any other available function keys.
And for posting the resulting picture, just click on the paper clip on the top right of the reply field. Make sure your cursor is sitting below your text before you hit the paper clip. Then Browse followed by Upload. When the upload completed, just close the paper clip window. You will only see your picture once you posted.
System Manufacturer/Model Number: HP, Dell, Gateway, Toshiba - 4 laptops and 2 desktops OS: Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8 CPU: from 1.6GHz Duo to i7 Monitor(s) Displays: 2x HP w2207 Keyboard: with trackball - no mices Mouse: Trackball mice Hard Drives: 5x HDD, 7x SSD, 12x Externals Internet Speed: DSL 6000