Dual Boot- Debian with Win 7 32 bit (unusable partition problem)

[DrMTR]

Hi sevenforums !

I have one problem. I want to install Debian linux along my Windows 7 32 OS on the same partiton. What i make:

1. Shrink the C partition, with windows integrated Disk Menagment and when try to install debian give me unusable partition space, similar like this:

/dev/sda
   /dev/sda1 ntfs                Recovery
   /dev/sda2 ntfs                C
   /dev/sda5 ext4                D
    unusable unalocated space        67000 MB

also try to Shrink the partition with integrated Gparted tool in debian, but the result its the same..

My current partition table is this:

How to make ext4 partition and install Debian along Win 7?

 

[Kaktussoft]

/dev/sda5 ext4 D
unusable unalocated space 67000 MB

Can't see any unallocated space in dsik management screenshot! Also I don't see an ext4 partition in diska managemnt screenshot. Is win7 disk management screenshot as it is now? You can't shrink C now... it's very small already. Steps you can do:

1-defrag D
2-shrink D afterwards. It will give you unallocated space in disk management. Make unallocated large enough to hold linux. For example 50GB (=50000MB)

After shrinking post disk management screenshot so I can see you did it fine.

 

[DrMTR]

I merged that partition with C: after that, so because that you cant see that partition after

My partition table was similar like this table:

You see unalocated space.? The same is with me.. only i have D partition, on the pic doesnt

Looks like that i have 4 primary partition, and windows dont allow making more the 4 primary partition. Advice?

 

[Kaktussoft]

This is situation now?

 

[DrMTR]

This is situation now?

yea, this is partition table in this moment.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Use partition Wizard to convert D to logical partition. HOME version is FREE! How to set partition as Logical with partition manager? Partition Wizard help. use aplly to apply the changes

after that in windows disk management.

1-defrag D
2-in windows disk management shrink D afterwards. It will give you unallocated space in disk management. Make unallocated large enough to hold linux. For example 50GB (=50000MB)

Post disk management screenshot again. So I can see.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Will DEBIAN just be used for hobby expermintal stuff? Or will it be the main OS?
So do you want LINUX as extra option in win7 bootmenu, or do you want WIN7 as extra option in LINUX bootmenu?

 

[DrMTR]

Dude, i want to install Debian on partitiot C:// not D://

Will DEBIAN just be used for hobby expermintal stuff? Or will it be the main OS?
So do you want LINUX as extra option in win7 bootmenu, or do you want WIN7 as extra option in LINUX bootmenu?

Will be used for testing purposes. Yea i want LINUX as extra option in win7 bootmenu

 

[Kaktussoft]

On C?? I think you want to install DEBIAN in it's OWN partition. DEBIAN can't be installed on an NTFS partition.

Or do you mean you want to shrink C and use the "unallocated space" that appears afterwards for linux? Not a good thing to do... C is already very small. But you decide... it's your machine.

 

[DrMTR]

On C?? I think you want to install DEBIAN in it's OWN partition. DEBIAN can't be installed on an NTFS partition.

Or do you mean you want to shrink C and use the "unallocated space" that appears afterwards for linux? Not a good thing to do... C is already very small. But you decide... it's your machine.

Yes i want to shrink C:// and use that "unallocated space" to install Debian. I dont have installed too many apps in Win 7, so i dont need too mush free space. So can be done this.?

 

[Kaktussoft]

On C?? I think you want to install DEBIAN in it's OWN partition. DEBIAN can't be installed on an NTFS partition.

Or do you mean you want to shrink C and use the "unallocated space" that appears afterwards for linux? Not a good thing to do... C is already very small. But you decide... it's your machine.

Yes i want to shrink C:// and use that "unallocated space" to install Debian. I dont have installed too many apps in Win 7, so i dont need too mush free space. So can be done this.?

Shrink C first to make space for linux. You have 4 partition alreayd (the maximum) so you need to create an extended partition. So after shrink C: use partition wizard and do:

1. Convert D to logical partition
2. Create another logical partition using all "unallocated space". Don't format... and if you have to.. make it ntfs. I don't care. It will be deleted later in the process
3. Apply the changes

Now open disk win7 management again. Delete the volume you created in step 2 above. You now still see all partitions. But there will be a green border around D and the "unallocated space".
Post disk management screenshot.

 

[DrMTR]

No data lost, if i convert D:// into logical partition.? i have data stored on D:/

 

[Kaktussoft]

No data lost, if i convert D:// into logical partition.? i have data stored on D:/

Simply do the steps I told you. No data will be lost. Unless........

• You spoil coffee over harddisk
• You delete the D partition instead the partition I told you to delete
• Your disk gets on fire
• etc....

I want to tell you.... a backup is always a good thing to do. But my procedure is safe. Still waiting for screenshot

 

[gregrocker]

As suggested you should convert one non-system partition to Logical so that you can add as many adjacent Logical partitions as you want, since you can only have four maximum Primary partitions.

I would convert D as also suggested since it is a data partition, but you can convert C if you want. It only needs to be adjacent to the Linux install partition so that can be created Logical, too.

Here's How to set partition as Logical with Partition Wizard.

And here's how to then create the adjacent Logical partition with the same tool: Partition or Volume - Create New