Running out of disc space, help!

Hi

Ive opensuse and windows on my laptop. I hardly use windows anymore but I would like to keep it. Im getting warning messages saying that I only have about 75 MB left on linux.

Windows has lots of space available (especially the “d” partition which I use for storing stuff in like music and video) but I do not know how to “claim” that partition for for Suse.

Ive attached a screenshot of the disc layout.

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 1275 10240000 f W95 Ext’d (LBA)
/dev/sda2 1275 20096 151173120 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 20096 38914 151155712 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda5 1 262 2102272 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 263 915 5243904 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 916 1275 2890752 83 Linux

sda1 - dont know whats on there (can just leave it)
sda 2 & 3 = windows (not sure which one of these is partition “D”)
other sda’s = linux

Can anyone please help?

Many thanks

Once you are sure you have no files that you might want to keep left on the partition, YaST>System>Partitioner. Select the partition and partition it as a Linux partition; don’t forget to mount it with a reasonable name like /home/videos (assuming you don’t already have a /home/videos partition).

sda3 is probably d: but make sure by comparing its start and end in Windows.

OK will do. Im currently moving the video files to the Windows C partition and will partition it! Thanks!

I wont use the new partition for videos anymore as I just want it for space to run suse on. Will my suse pick up on the fact that I will have a new partition and stop telling me that Im running out of space? or will I need to move program files, etc out of my main suse partition into this new partition?

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 1275 10240000 f W95 Ext’d (LBA)

/dev/sda5 1 262 2102272 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 263 915 5243904 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 916 1275 2890752 83 Linux

/dev/sda2 1275 20096 151173120 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 20096 38914 151155712 7 HPFS/NTFS

Just FYI:
sda5,6,7 are inside sda1

It’s the strangest setup I have seen in a long time. And not one I would want.

It’s the strangest setup I have seen in a long time. And not one I would want.

I agree. And certainly not as a a starting point to make it more messy.

BTW Sussudio, when you want to understand what an Extended Partitions is (sda1 in your case) read a bit in SDB:Basics of partitions, filesystems, mount points - openSUSE.

And next time you post computer output like the* fdisk -l* output you did please use CODE tags: Posting in Code Tags - A Guide. I skipped that fdisk output because of eye soreness and thus mised the extraordinary setup.

Thanks for your replies.

@ caf4926 - It is a weird set up indeed! Ive had several goes at installing Opensuse but kept failing as I didnt really know what I was doing.

Now when I boot my laptop I get option of 2 Opensuse’s or Windows and when I choose Windows I get a new screen that lets me choose between installing Opensuse or boot in Windows! Maybe that explains the mess… Any pointers as to how to untangle it all?

@ hcvv - Thanks for the tip. I now (sort of) understand what an extended partition is although it still sounds very confusing to a many years “ms-dos” user.

Hereś the outcome after using yast partitioner. Am I good to go in regards to linux space and will I need to move anything in there to avoid getting those low disc messages? Just to clarify, Im dont have any large files such as videos etc on linux space, just in Windows… So Im wondering if I need to move program data to the new partition or will it sort of “take it from there” automatically?

Many thanks

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1        1275    10240000    f  W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda2            1275       20096   151173120    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3           20096       38914   151155712    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda5               1         262     2102272   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6             263         915     5243904   83  Linux
/dev/sda7             916        1275     2890752   83  Linux

mmm… actually using Nautilus it seems that I still have a partition inside Windows called “D” but it is only 475.5 MB?

Where would I be able to see my new partition? I cant find it anywhere (renamed it to home\opensuse_space)

I see you are totally confused here.

Do you have a backup or a means to back up?

I’m going to recommend a re-install or re-arrange of everything - which will depend if you have a Windows install CD

I dont think I have a Windows CD but my Laptop came with some sort of recovery console , so Im wondering if I can create a CD from there?

Im off to work now but catch you later.

Many thanks

Recovery is a waste of time.
Here is what I propose:

Get Parted Magic
Get Parted Magic ISO

Use it to remove all partitions except sda2 and sda3 - your 2 windows NTFS partitions
If necessary resize sda2 (it may change to sda1 when you delete the extended) resize it so it’s start is 1 not 1275

So you should end up with something like this:

/dev/sda1            1       20096   151173120    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2           20096       38914   151155712    7  HPFS/NTFS

Make sure there is as much free space on sda2 as possible by moving files off it and defraging it before hand and then use Parted Magic to shrink it in half (If that is possible)

Once you shrink it, you should end up with a section of free unallocated space. Creat an extended partition to use all the free space, and then create your Linux Partitions inside the new extended:
This video will give an idea

swap 2GB
/ (root) 25 GB ext4
/home --all the remainder ext4

Put the boot flag on the extended
Setting the boot flag

Once done. You can now install openSUSE, using the partitions you created.
See this install example
Picasa Web Albums - carl fletcher - openSUSE 11.2…

I will leave the discussion between you and caf4926, not to make it more difficult as it is. But yourr comment:

@ hcvv - Thanks for the tip. I now (sort of) understand what an extended partition is although it still sounds very confusing to a many years “ms-dos” user.

looks strange to me as the partitioning we use here is in fact the MS-DOS way of partitioning.

OK before continuing there’s something I noticed…the new linux partition I created yesterday and thought wasnt there, is! I found it under “home” in Nautilus and it has 144GB free space!

So I now that have lots of linux space available I was wondering how could I expand my home folder into this free space and just leave reinstalling opensuse for some other time?

I meant ms-dos / windows type of guy (C drive, D drive, E drive and so on!)

That is not the partitioning, those are the names given to the partitions as used by the OS and presented to the user. Like in linux they are mounted as /, /home, etc.

The partitioning is all the same for all and is not dependant on the OS and is about primary, extended and logical partitions and their start addresses, sizes and their types. Several OSs make use of this type of partitioning, but the definition of it (and the partition table) are outside of these OSs.