I have tried a search but still can't find the answer, so here goes.

I have an 80Gb HD which, when I installed it, I partitioned into 4 (unequal) partitions. the idea was to have Windows and Linux (which I have never used before) on the same machine. The reason for 4 partitions was so I could have a system and a data drive for each OS - don't ask, just habit :D

Anyway, I miscalculated on my Windows system partition and it is getting a bit tight. I have heard that Partition Magic is a very good tool but I have two questions:

1. Can it be used to resize a partition that was originally set up using another package (ie the partitioning tool that came with the HD)?

2. Do I really need it: is there a cheaper alternative given that I am not likely to do a lot of resizing?

Thanks.

Aiglon

I use Acronis for resizing partitions - works very well.

On a dual-boot Linux/Windows machine best bet is to keep your data on a FAT32 partition which is the only format that both OSes can read/write reliably.

Linux can't write NTFS reliably because Microsoft won't publish the details of the partition format. Linux can read NTFS OK, but writing is still experimental.

Windows can't natively read or write ext2, ext3 or Reiser file systems fulls stop. This is a political decision on MS part - they don't want to encourage dual boot systems. One would have thought that hackers would have long ago written stable 3rd party installable file system drivers for these sytems, but although these filesystem specifications are public, Microsoft's proprietary OS makes it very difficult to write reliable IFS drivers.

I use ReiserFS for my Linux installs so I'm out of luck, but there is an ext2/3 driver for Windows at http://uranus.it.swin.edu.au/~jn/linux/ext2ifs.htm

Happy Christamas all!

Mac

PS: Over a network it doesn't matter. One can either use Samba on Linux to access Microsoft's SMB exports (best solutions) or install Windows Services for UNIX (SFU) and export as NFS which Linux reads without problems.

I bought Partition Magic a few months ago and have used it several times for setting up and for re-sizing partitions. I've found it both effective and simple to use (not being an expert, that's important!).

I don't see why it can't be used for re-sizing partitions set up by other systems; after all, it's only handling standard data to do it.

As far as cost goes, I got a copy from a firm called Worthy Deal (in Cambridge as far as I can remember) for about £26.50 including postage and packing which seemed very reasonable.

GG

Thanks for the comments. Mike, I will have a look at the link you posted and see what is on there. Otherwise, maybe I will just go for Partition Magic anyway.

All the best

Aiglon