Size of available shrink space in MB = 0

[Maya]

Hi,

I am trying to shrink space on my C: partition using the Vista Disk
Management program. I have 54.15GB of free space; however when trying
to shrink the C: volume, the program tells me that I have 0MB of
shrink space. I have done the following:
- ran disk clean-up on files from all users
- disabled system restore
- cleaned up restore points
- defragmented the disk

I have also tried using the trial version of Acronis Disk Director,
which is compatible with Vista. However, in the trial version, it only
allows shrinkage of about 7MB (I would like to free up about 30GB).

If anyone can help me fix this, I'll greatly appreciate it.

Thanks.

 

[John Smith]

The tool that can fix this is called paragon parition manager

having said that, I think that if you use a good defragmenter tool like
RAXCO PERFECT DISK, then it really moves the files in the begining of the
drive, thus leaving empty space for vista to do its thing...

as for a free alternative solution there is a linux bootable disk called
PARTMAGIC or
another one called GPART (these 2 are similar) that I think will work.. but
I usually use PARAGON, its the best!

Ill try to find the links for the last 2 and will post later ...

 

[John Smith]

ok here are the live CD's that can manage the paritions for you, see this
page and especialy the TABLE showing what it can do
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GParted


GPARTED (bootable cd) http://gparted-livecd.tuxfamily.org/


PARTEDMAGINC (Bootable CD) http://www.partedmagic.com/

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

You may need to use a third party defrag program to move files that Vista's
defrag routine cannot. If they are locked at the end of the volume, you
won't be able to shrink it until they are moved.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[John Smith]

so lets see....

1) vista has a defrag that doesnt work well (basically its SH!T) they
removed all visual feedback, whoever did this should burn in hell for
eternity.

2) and it also has a partition manager that cant resize the partitions well
enough...

GEE WHIZZZ, VISTA SUCKS!

 

[Maya]

The reason I'm trying to shrink space and create a partition is
because I would like to install Linux on the new partition. I am
planning on installing Fedora Core 8 from the liveCD. I understand
that the liveCD has the option of partitioning the hardrive during
installation. Would you at all recommend using the liveCD's
partitioning methods or shrink and partition BEFORE installation? (I'm
not sure if the CD has a defragmentation program though)

Thanks a lot for your help

 

[John Smith]

Hello Maya, I took a look at GPARTED live cd that is a linux basically...
and it does support SHRINK indeed.. so you can shrink the first NTFS volume,
thus leaving space for FERDORA,

Im not sure about Ferdora, since it has been a long time since I have used
that distro,
but other linux distros have GPARTED inside the INSTALLER of the Linux!

In other words GPARTED is a part of the linux you will be installing, so you
can indeed resize and make room for linux.. HOWEVER I strongly suggest that
you backup all important data from vista before you do this..

anything can go wrong, and its better to be safe than sorry!

 

[NoStop]

The reason I'm trying to shrink space and create a partition is
because I would like to install Linux on the new partition. I am
planning on installing Fedora Core 8 from the liveCD. I understand
that the liveCD has the option of partitioning the hardrive during
installation. Would you at all recommend using the liveCD's
partitioning methods or shrink and partition BEFORE installation? (I'm
not sure if the CD has a defragmentation program though)

Thanks a lot for your help

I use Ubuntu, not Fedora, but I'd imagine the routine is the same. I'd
recommend letting the Fedora install routine shrink and use available space
it creates. I doubt that it will defrag your existing ntfs drive. You
should do that in Windoze prior to installing Fedora. I thought that Vista
automatically did a defrag in the background as you ran it? So it might be
a non-issue.

Cheers.

--
An HONEST Vista Ad:

The Rolling Stones Love Vista:

Frank - seek help immediately! Visit ...
http://www.binsa.org/

 

[Maya]

What about defragmentation - I used vista to defrag BEFORE I cleaned
up the restore points. Would you recommend defragmenting now as well
using vista's defragmentation program or obtain 3rd party defrag
program (if you know any for free, that would be great).

When I run vista's defrag, it tells me that "Your file system
performance is good. You do not need to defragment at this time". (but
I CAN defrag) So I thought that after cleaning up the restore points,
I didn't need to defrag. However, not being able to have a visual
representation of the disk (XP has one, I think, 'cause I remember I
did a defrag before and I could see where memory was used up on the
disk before and after defrag) is really unfortunate because I don't
know where and what memory is used up.

I'm pretty sure that FEDORA uses GPARTED to partition the disk. Are
there any risks to partitioning during installation rather than before
installation?

Thanks.

 

[Maya]

Vista does run an automatic defrag whenever you set it to. However, I
have deleted many files in the past week to free up more space so I
need to defrag once more.

I think I most likely will just use the Fedora install shrink routine
and partitioning. However, I'm still confused as to why Vista's disk
manager tells me that there is 0MB space to shrink (where I have
54GB's of free space).

 

[the wharf rat]

I use Ubuntu, not Fedora, but I'd imagine the routine is the same. I'd
recommend letting the Fedora install routine shrink and use available space
it creates. I doubt that it will defrag your existing ntfs drive. You

Linux questions on a Vista newgroup???

Well, ok... Best way to add linux to an existing windows is

0. BACK UP YOUR DATA
1. Defrag under windows
2. Boot Knoppix (single cd linux distribution)
3. Run parted or gparted

Here's something that looks interesting but I havent' tried it:

http://gparted-livecd.tuxfamily.org/

 

[John Smith]

ok your questions would need several pages to be answered fully.. but let me
try to explain a few things..

when a paritioning program resizes a volume, what it does is it copies data
from the area of the disk that is to be emptied to the rest of the disk, to
make room. The MS defrag and other free defrag programs (I know a few) do
not really move the files in the begining of the drive to have them all nice
and tidy, instead they do "partial" defragmentation wich is quicker, BUT it
does not move data out of the way for vista to be able to resize the
partition.

Just to satisfy your curiosity here are the 2 free defraggers :

http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag and
http://www.defraggler.com/

but as I said, these 2 do not move the data in the start of the drive like
you want.

A good defrag program I have tested is RAXCO PERFECT DISK not free though.

I suggest that you make sure all important data is backed up, and use the
shrinking option in the FERDORA installtion
cd, to shrink your current partition and make room for linux...

You can also do that before hand with GPARTED live cd.

 

[John Smith]

Oh I just remembered something else that may interest you
This is for UBUNTU but I have tried it and it works well.

http://wubi-installer.org/
Wubi is Safe
It does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a
different bootloader.

 

[Maya]

Any advantage to partitioning before installing (as opposed to during
installation)?

 

[Maya]

Linux questions on a Vista newgroup???

Well, ok... Best way to add linux to an existing windows is

0. BACK UP YOUR DATA
1. Defrag under windows
2. Boot Knoppix (single cd linux distribution)
3. Run parted or gparted

Here's something that looks interesting but I havent' tried it:

http://gparted-livecd.tuxfamily.org/

The link is to gparted liveCD - it's the same gparted that will be run
during Fedora installation though - right?

 

[John Smith]

the best way is before you install anything on a computer to have all your
patitions ready,
then install the OS's you want. This was the traditional way..

but since in reality people dont always know before hand what they are going
to do,
programs have come out that try to modify the partitions on a disk..

of course when doing this there is always a small risk something may go
wrong.
You understand this of course....

If you are asking if there is a difference in using GPART before you install
the Linux,
or use the built in shrinker of linux while you are installing, NO there is
no difference since
its basically the SAME PROGRAM! lol gparted is the opensource program that
all these linux uses..

see my other post about the ubuntu installer that lets you use linux without
paritioning..

it may interest you...

 

[John Smith]

something else that may interest you
This is for UBUNTU but I have tried it and it works well.

http://wubi-installer.org/
Wubi is Safe
It does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a
different bootloader.

 

[Maya]

the best way is before you install anything on a computer to have all your
patitions ready,
then install the OS's you want. This was the traditional way..

but since in reality people dont always know before hand what they are going
to do,
programs have come out that try to modify the partitions on a disk..

of course when doing this there is always a small risk something may go
wrong.
You understand this of course....

If you are asking if there is a difference in using GPART before you install
the Linux,
or use the built in shrinker of linux while you are installing, NO there is
no difference since
its basically the SAME PROGRAM! lol gparted is the opensource program that
all these linux uses..

see my other post about the ubuntu installer that lets you use linux without
paritioning..

it may interest you...

I checked it out. Thanks But the one you gave is for Ubuntu
specifically (I understand). I really had my heart set on Fedora for a
long time ... Thanks anyway.

 

[the wharf rat]

The link is to gparted liveCD - it's the same gparted that will be run
during Fedora installation though - right?

All those things run exactly the same software. The difference
is how and when it's presented. IMHO it's less confusing to get a nice
simple interface. make your changes, then start an install then it is to
deal with it as part of the larger task. Also, it's easier to recover
if you check your work before proceeding. Did I ever tell you about the
time I overlapped the swap partition with /usr, and the system would
run fine until it got busy and started swapping? (You can't do that
any more but it's still less confusing to carefully repartition THEN
deal with installing a new OS... IMHO)

 

[Maya]

I also prefer to break down everything into little tasks as opposed to
doing everything at once. That is why I wanted to partition before
installing the new OS. However, it seems like I don't have much choice
in this situation since the Vista partitioner seems to not give me any
space to shrink, for some reason.