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converting ntfs partitions to EXT3
Hay,
Yesterday I wanted to convert an ntfs partition into EXT3. 2 of my systems are running triple boot (jaunty, open suse and xp) When I started with Linux I had the largest data partitions formatted as fat 32 so both systems could approach them. Later on, I formatted them as ntfs . Now I use Linux almost exclusively. I therefore intend to format data partitions to EXT3 (no defragmentation like ntfs less movements of the read head) of course after backing up all files.
Situation on PC in question:
sda1: / jaunty
sda2: extended: boot (grub opensuse)
sda5: swap
sda6: / home jaunty
sda7: opensuse 11.1
sda8: ntfs partition
sda8 was so formatted (with jaunty in gparted) to EXT3 file after safeguarded.
Also modified: /etc/fstab
*
Code:
/ dev/sda8 / home / guy / data ext3 defaults 0 0
After the reboot the system could not find any boot device, apparently the opensuse grub had disappeared. With the jaunty livecd of ubuntu I put back grub to hd0 and the system returned to normal boot, although with menu.lst jaunty.
Is this normal if one formats a partition the boot loader also disappears or was it because grub was installed on sda2 (partition extend.) Open Suse was installed last, but grub cannot be installed on a logical drive.
The point of this story is that I want to do the same with my other systems (convert large data partitions from ntfs to EXT3) eg If grub is installed on sda1 and I format a partition in sdb2 (bv.sdb7) is something similar to be expercted ?
Sorry if Imake some language mistakes, I am used speaking Dutch
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Re: converting ntfs partitions to EXT3
IIam sorry to say so, but your info can not be true (you can e.g. not boot from an extended partition). Can you please copy and paste the output of
here instead of trying to describe what you think it says. Same for
because you have to much white space in what you present here.
And please surround the pasted output with CODE tags (by selecting the part and clicking the # above). Like I did with the statements above.
And the output (of course copy and paste) of the appropriate
Code:
cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
Henk van Velden
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Re: converting ntfs partitions to EXT3
For the moment I am running ubuntu on the system I talked about :
Output of fdisk -l :
Code:
Schijf /dev/sda: 122.9 GB, 122942324736 bytes
255 koppen, 63 sectoren/spoor, 14946 cilinders
Eenheid = cilinders van 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Schijf-ID: 0xad2a8d35
Apparaat Opstart Begin Einde Blokken ID Systeem
/dev/sda1 * 1 2432 19535008+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 2433 14946 100518705 5 Uitgebreid
/dev/sda5 2433 7295 39062016 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 14700 14946 1983996 82 Linux wisselgeheugen
/dev/sda7 7296 10879 28788448+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 10880 14699 30684118+ 83 Linux
Partitietabel-items liggen niet in schijfvolgorde.
Schijf /dev/sdb: 60.0 GB, 60040544256 bytes
255 koppen, 63 sectoren/spoor, 7299 cilinders
Eenheid = cilinders van 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Schijf-ID: 0x9c3dbf1d
Apparaat Opstart Begin Einde Blokken ID Systeem
/dev/sdb1 * 1 1435 11526606 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2 1436 7298 47094547+ f W95 Uitgeb. (LBA)
/dev/sdb5 1436 3985 20482843+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb6 3986 7298 26611641 7 HPFS/NTFS
output of /etc/fstab :
guy@PC3:~$ cat /etc/fstab
Code:
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'vol_id --uuid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=91e4787e-e18f-49a9-a167-c6f1b806e75a / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /home was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=5c0babda-8031-4b24-8e35-0eccb5420f8e /home ext3 relatime 0 2
# swap was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=3c31bddd-9b68-4e68-befe-69c369a8e366 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/scd1 /media/cdrom1 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy0 auto rw,user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0
/dev/sda8 /home/guy/data ext3 defaults 0 0
Output of /boot/grub/menu.lst :
Code:
guy@PC3:~$ cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.
## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0
## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
#timeout 10
## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu
# Pretty colours
color white/red black/green
## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret
#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#
#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST
### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below
## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs
## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=91e4787e-e18f-49a9-a167-c6f1b806e75a ro
## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=91e4787e-e18f-49a9-a167-c6f1b806e75a
## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true
## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false
## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash
## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false
## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=
## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0
## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single
## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=2
## specify if running in Xen domU or have grub detect automatically
## update-grub will ignore non-xen kernels when running in domU and vice versa
## e.g. indomU=detect
## indomU=true
## indomU=false
# indomU=detect
## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true
## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false
## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false
## ## End Default Options ##
title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-15-generic
#uuid 91e4787e-e18f-49a9-a167-c6f1b806e75a
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-15-generic root=UUID=91e4787e-e18f-49a9-a167-c6f1b806e75a ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-15-generic
quiet
title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-15-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 91e4787e-e18f-49a9-a167-c6f1b806e75a
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-15-generic root=UUID=91e4787e-e18f-49a9-a167-c6f1b806e75a ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-15-generic
title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-14-generic
uuid 91e4787e-e18f-49a9-a167-c6f1b806e75a
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-14-generic root=UUID=91e4787e-e18f-49a9-a167-c6f1b806e75a ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-14-generic
quiet
title Ubuntu 9.04, kernel 2.6.28-14-generic (recovery mode)
uuid 91e4787e-e18f-49a9-a167-c6f1b806e75a
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-14-generic root=UUID=91e4787e-e18f-49a9-a167-c6f1b806e75a ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-14-generic
title Ubuntu 9.04, memtest86+
uuid 91e4787e-e18f-49a9-a167-c6f1b806e75a
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet
### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root
# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sdb1
title Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
chainloader +1
###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 11.1 - 2.6.27.29-0.1
root (hd0,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27.29-0.1-default root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-Maxtor_6Y120P0_Y45AGDZE-part7 resume=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-Maxtor_6Y120P0_Y45AGDZE-part6 splash=silent showopts vga=0x31a
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.27.29-0.1-default
I will post the same outputs when I rebooted to opensuse
I am quite sure I installed opensuse last on sda7 and got the error message I could not install grub on a logical partition. I cannot quite prove this since I reïnstalled grub with the ubuntu livecd on sda1
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Re: converting ntfs partitions to EXT3
Hay,
Same outputs in opensuse :
Code:
linux-m9ks:~ # fdisk -l
Disk /dev/sda: 122.9 GB, 122942324736 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14946 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xad2a8d35
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 2432 19535008+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 2433 14946 100518705 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 2433 7295 39062016 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 14700 14946 1983996 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 7296 10879 28788448+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda8 10880 14699 30684118+ 83 Linux
Partition table entries are not in disk order
Disk /dev/sdb: 60.0 GB, 60040544256 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 7299 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x9c3dbf1d
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 1435 11526606 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb2 1436 7298 47094547+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sdb5 1436 3985 20482843+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdb6 3986 7298 26611641 7 HPFS/NTFS
Output of /etc/fstab :
Code:
linux-m9ks:~ # cat /etc/fstab
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-Maxtor_6Y120P0_Y45AGDZE-part6 swap swap defaults 0 0
/dev/disk/by-id/ata-Maxtor_6Y120P0_Y45AGDZE-part7 / ext3 acl,user_xattr 1 1
/dev/sr0 /media/dvd1 udf,iso9660 ro,user,noauto,unhide 0 0
/dev/sr1 /media/dvd2 udf,iso9660 ro,user,noauto,unhide 0 0
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs noauto 0 0
debugfs /sys/kernel/debug debugfs noauto 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts mode=0620,gid=5 0 0
output of /boot/grub/menu.lst :
Code:
linux-m9ks:~ # cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
# Modified by YaST2. Last modification on Thu Aug 20 17:32:56 CEST 2009
default 0
#timeout 8
##YaST - generic_mbr
gfxmenu (hd0,6)/boot/message
##YaST - activate
###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: linux###
title openSUSE 11.1 - 2.6.27.29-0.1
root (hd0,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27.29-0.1-default root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-Maxtor_6Y120P0_Y45AGDZE-part7 resume=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-Maxtor_6Y120P0_Y45AGDZE-part6 splash=silent showopts vga=0x31a
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.27.29-0.1-default
###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: failsafe###
title Failsafe -- openSUSE 11.1 - 2.6.27.29-0.1
root (hd0,6)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27.29-0.1-default root=/dev/disk/by-id/ata-Maxtor_6Y120P0_Y45AGDZE-part7 showopts ide=nodma apm=off noresume nosmp maxcpus=0 edd=off powersaved=off nohz=off highres=off processor.max_cstate=1 x11failsafe vga=0x31a
initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.27.29-0.1-default
###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: openSUSE 11.1 - 2.6.27.23-0.1 (/dev/sda1)###
title ubuntu 9.04 (/dev/sda1)
root (hd0,0)
configfile /boot/grub/menu.lst
###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: windows###
title Windows
map (hd1) (hd0)
map (hd0) (hd1)
rootnoverify (hd1,0)
makeactive
chainloader +1
###Don't change this comment - YaST2 identifier: Original name: floppy###
title Floppy
rootnoverify (fd0)
chainloader +1
Opensuse is on sda7, grub ubuntu on sda1 now
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Re: converting ntfs partitions to EXT3
OK, this makes the picture, as it is, much clearer. I still try to finf out what your real question(s) is(are). But I can try to make some comments in the hope that it helps you.
Where the * are in the fdisk -l listing that is the boot partition.
You see that the line in your Ubuntu /etc/fstab about /dev/sda8 is very different from what you gave earlier. Be carefull with typing spaces and copy/past is of course invented to ban typos.
An extended partition only is a container for logical partitions and you can not use it as a boot partition or put GRUB on it. So part of you story ii still bogus to me.
One of your questions is: can the conversion of a partition to another file system make a mess of GRUB? Answer: yes, but only if GRUB is on that partition. As yoou did things to sda8 I can not understand how it could do something to GRUB. You do not tell very much on how yyou converted sda8, but as you do not complain about data loss on sda8, I think that went OK. But I will in short tell you how I would do it, in case you did very different, may including something that destroyed GRUB. I would
. make a copy of all data by a tool like tar or rsync;
. umount /dev/sda8;
. mkfs an ext3 on /dev/sda8;
. edit the /etc/fstab entry of /dev/sda8 by changing the fs type to ext3;
. mount /dev/sda8;
. restore all data.
Part of this could be done by a helpfull tool like YaST, but it all comes down to the same things.
You should decide if you are going to use GRUB from Ubuntu or rom openSUSE. When Ubuntu was there and you boot from sda1 (the one with the *) then only the adding of the openSUSE entry (as it is there) is sufficient. On the installation of openSUSE no GRUB install to the MBR is needed IMHO. Though there might be a menu.lst, it is simply never used.
In short, when you convert a partition on sdb, I do not see how that can influence things on sda. But check if your order of things is about the same as the one I suggested above.
Henk van Velden
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Re: converting ntfs partitions to EXT3
Thanks for the explanation.
I translated the words with google. Won't do that again, google makes more mistakes than I 
I believe you when you say grub can't be installed in a extended partition but I am quite sure that the "*" was on sda2
How could I otherwise destroy suses'grub.
I am afraid it will remain a mystery.
To make things short, I formatted sda8 in ubuntu with gparted to EXT3
and my system could not find a boot device anymore. But anyway I have now grub on sda1, so when I do the same with a part on e.g.sdb it will not destroy my bootloader
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Re: converting ntfs partitions to EXT3
Go for it!
Ik wens je succes. En kom terug als er weer problemen zijn.
Henk van Velden
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Re: converting ntfs partitions to EXT3
 Originally Posted by hcvv
Go for it!
Ik wens je succes. En kom terug als er weer problemen zijn. 
Bedankt beste Henk. Bij verder contact kan ik U dus gerust in het nederlands aanspreken. Dat is toch iets eenvoudiger om technische zaken te bespreken. Ik had al wel opgemerkt dat je in nederland woont maar ik dacht dat men hier op het forum liever engels als voertaal gebruikt. Tot binnenkort 
Btw, ik werk al met ubuntu vanaf 06/2006 en probeer nu een halfjaar opensuse uit. Moet zeggen dat suse me zeer bevalt. Komt misschien ook omdat ik in ubuntu gnome gebruik en kde in opensuse.Eigenlijk een werelld van verschil.
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Re: converting ntfs partitions to EXT3
Beste summer69,
De voertaal is inderdaad engels hier hoewel soms in andere talen wordt gewerkt en men probeert dan toch (bv met babelfish) te helpen. Het is echter beter om het in het engels (hoe slecht ook en dat van jou is niet zo slecht) te doen. Dan kunnen meer mensen de discussie begrijpen, meedenken, meehelpen of er van meeprofiteren.
Henk van Velden
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Re: converting ntfs partitions to EXT3
ok, english it will be. Many thanks and untill next time
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