In a dual boot machine, you might find yourself running out of disk space on your Linux partition. If you’re in this situation and you’re wondering how to add more disk space to your Linux partition without uninstalling Ubuntu, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will walk you through the steps to achieve this.
To add more disk space for Linux in a dual boot machine without uninstalling Ubuntu, you have two options. Option 1 is to use GParted from the Ubuntu Live DVD to resize your Ubuntu partition. Option 2 is to use Windows Disk Management to shrink your Windows drive and then resize your Ubuntu partition using GParted. Remember to backup your data before making any changes to your disk partitions.
Precautions
Before we start, it’s important to note that manipulating disk partitions can lead to data loss if not done correctly. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to backup your data before proceeding.
Option 1: Using GParted from Ubuntu Live DVD
If you’re not particularly concerned about your Windows partition, you can use GParted, a free partition editor for graphically managing your disk partitions.
Step 1: Boot from Ubuntu Live DVD
Shut down your PC, insert the Ubuntu live DVD, and boot your computer from it.
Step 2: Open GParted
Once the trial Ubuntu boots up, open the “gparted” program. You can do this by typing gparted in the terminal.
Step 3: Resize Your Ubuntu Partition
In GParted, right-click on the partition you want to resize and select “resize/move”. Be careful not to shrink any partition where there is no white space left.
Step 4: Repair Windows (if necessary)
If your Windows OS becomes broken at this point, you can use your Windows installation CD/DVD to repair it.
Option 2: Using Windows Disk Management
If you want to preserve your Windows partition, you can use Windows Disk Management to shrink the size of your Windows drive and create empty HDD space for Ubuntu.
Step 1: Open Disk Management
In Windows 10, right-click on “My Computer” and select “Manage”. Go to “Storage” and open “Disk Management”.
Step 2: Shrink Your Windows Drive
In Disk Management, right-click on your Windows drive and select “Shrink Volume”. Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB and click on the “Shrink” button.
Step 3: Resize Your Ubuntu Partition
After shrinking your Windows drive, you can now increase your Ubuntu partition using GParted, following the steps outlined in Option 1.
Conclusion
Adding more disk space to your Linux partition in a dual boot machine without uninstalling Ubuntu is a straightforward process if you follow the steps outlined in this guide. Remember to always back up your data before making any changes to your disk partitions. If you need more information or encounter any issues, you can refer to this Ask Ubuntu thread where someone had a similar issue.
No, it is not safe to manipulate disk partitions without backing up data. There is a risk of data loss if not done correctly. It is highly recommended to backup your data before proceeding.
Yes, you can use GParted to resize your Ubuntu partition without affecting your Windows partition. However, it is important to be careful and not shrink any partition where there is no white space left.
If your Windows OS becomes broken during the partition resizing process, you can use your Windows installation CD/DVD to repair it.
Yes, you can use Windows Disk Management to shrink the size of your Windows drive and create empty HDD space for Ubuntu. After shrinking your Windows drive, you can then use GParted to resize your Ubuntu partition.
Before adding more disk space to your Linux partition, it is important to backup your data. Manipulating disk partitions can lead to data loss if not done correctly, so it is always recommended to have a backup of your important files.
