Suse Format/Install issues

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Hello ma friends rotfl!!

I have a laptop with an original linux Suse Enterprise 11 OS, and a Windows 7 installed after, I’m a beginner in Linux and actually I need some disk space, so I gonna free the linux one, so two partitions should be wiped, the ext and the swap, and that will provide enough space for my purpose, my questions is the follow:

  1. I’ll be using Gparted to format, does not this make any issue or conflict with windows 7?

  2. I have a partition of the Suse System Recovery (to conserve of course), if I have formatted the partition where the Suse was installed, are there any risk to lose (crush) other partitions?

  3. If I want to install (recover) my Suse after freeing spaces (two disks) using my System Recovery CD, (again ^^) are there any risk to lose (crush) other partitions?

My best wishes !

2

You should be fine. But really we would need to see this from a su - terminal

fdisk -l

Become su in Terminal - HowTo

3

First off this is an OpenSuse form not an SLES form.

Second in order to make a recommendation we need more and better information.

type
su -
to become root
then
fdisk -l (that is a lowercase L not a one)
this will list you partitions.

copy and paste the info back here using the code blocks in the online editor to preserve format.
Someone then can advise you further.

Do you have data you wish to preserve in Linux?

4

Yes, you have SLED and this is not the Novell Forums.
Still pls post output as previously requested


fdisk -l   
## and
mount

I’m not sure I follow what you intend to do with the SuSE System Recovery partition. Is this an original partition to restore SuSe?
If that’s true why would you wipe it out unless you have the data on that partition backed up? What (two disks) and System Recovery CD ?

Also, is your intent to completely remove the Linux partitions?

There’s always risk to losing (crush?) data on partitions, especially when trying things you don’t fully understand or when helpers don’t understand your questions. That’s why most responders have caveats and strongly recommend backing up all your important files, folders, and configuration files before beginning major changes to partitions, operating systems, desktop, kernels, etc. Even a simple change can cause major headaches for a user sometimes.

5

I thank you all who wanted to support,

First of all, keep in mind that I’m newbie in Linux OS, so please deal with the situation,
All what I try to do is to uninstall Linux Suse to use the partition taken by it for other storage use (OSes, documents, videos, …), till I complete my university project using Windows, than, I’ll be ready to take a good tutorial for Linux.

I’ll be answering your questions one by one:
But really we would need to see this from a su - terminal
Actually, I can’t access to Suse after installing Windows 7 (I know that I can use EasyBCD utility to enable the dual-boot but I do not want to do it now).

First off this is an OpenSuse form not an SLES form.
Believe me gogalthorp, I don’t have this information, I thought that it’s the same, but, if you can’t help I go to Novell forums.

Do you have data you wish to preserve in Linux?
No, there are no data recorded to preserve.

the SuSE System Recovery partition. Is this an original partition to restore SuSe?
Exactly, a partition has 8 Gb to restore Suse.

If that’s true why would you wipe it out
I will wipe out The OS by format the partition where it’s installed, not the partition itself.

What (two disks) and System Recovery CD ?
I refer by two disks to:

  1. partition in which Suse is installed (20 Gb).
  2. The Linux swap (4 Gb).

And, System Recovery CD is that CD which used to boot and recover Suse (I suppose that you don’t have a laptop).

Also, is your intent to completely remove the Linux partitions?
I intent to free it’s space not to remove the partition (to format the disk where it is installed).

6

Thanks for the explanation, I understand. Before you start backup your Windows 7 installation.
I don’t know how much space you’ll need for a complete backup but Seagate DiscManager, Norton Ghost, TruImage, etc. can backup your Windows 7.

I’m sure you can use the Windows 7 Disk Management component of Administrative Tools to accomplish your goals.
If not there’s Gparted LiveCD, and I think Parted Magic both boot partition managers.

This link should show you how to get to Windows 7 Disk Management components:
Administrative Tools - Computer Management in Windows 7 - Windows 7
(up to step 3, select Component Management | Storage Management | Disk Management)

This link should show you how to resize a partition using Windows 7 Disk Management components:
How to resize a partition in Windows 7 - Windows 7

This link, which should have pictures but they are omitted,
explains how to create, delete partitions and resize extended partitions using Windows 7 Disk Management:
Using Disk Management in Windows 7 and Vista

I’m not in Windows 7 now, so I can’t tell you exactly how the Linux partitions are labeled in Windows 7. However, they are not named C:, D: or E: most likely undefined.
You should be able to target the non-Windows 7 partitions by their sizes, ie, the swap file will be 4GB partition and the SUSE installation should be on the 20GB partition.
The 8GB partition should be the SUSE recovery CD.

You can use Disk Management to delete the 4GB and 20GB partitions according to the links above. If the 4GB and 20GB partitions are contiguous to your Windows 7 partition then you should be able to extend your Windows 7 partition to include their space. If not you can format them as D: .

Before you start and after you’ve backed up your Windows 7, you should post your refined question in the Microsoft Public Forums to confirm the links I provided above.
Microsoft Forums
(Good luck with that! Use Bing search in the forums to find answers because their forum is a mess).

7

I agree with Tararpharazon.
I am not so new to Linux, but I have much to learn… One thing I have learned after installing as well as uninstalling many a distro and subsequently locking myself outta countless computers (chuckle) is, if you’re going to be doing away with the Linux system, the easiest way to do it is with a live CD like the others said, or from within Windows.

Personally I use Easeus from within Windows. (Get it here Hard Drive Disk Data Recovery and File Recovery Freeware.) It’s a great program for working with your partitions, as well as backing them up prior to tinkering. (For heaven’s sake, Make a bacckup of your cherished partition before starting out to delete stuff. )
After you have deleted your swap, root and home partitions, you can use Easeus to re-size your NTFS partition.

Additionally, if you are comfortable enough in Linux to use gparted or similar rescue CD, I would suggest you checkout SystemRescueCd.

Make sure you have your Win7 recovery CD handy as well, in case you nuke your Linux system, but leave grub in your MBR or something.

Good luck!