HD space availability prior to Linux install

On Sun, 23 Jul 2006 06:12:15 -0700, PaulFXH

I see Michael Heiming's post recommending ntfsresize. That could work, but before proceeding, I recommend that you make a backup first. But if you trust your backup method, then you might be able to proceed more directly to the solution. You could make the backup, repartabreastion, then proceed directly to install your linux distribution. This method lets you skip ntfsresize because the XP parbreastion is "blown away" after the backup.

The usual caveat's apply here:

1. Make sure of your intended target (for backup and restores). 2. Make sure your existing parbreastion table matches your buttumptions. 3. Layout your plans on paper (parbreastion table, etc) before proceeding. Use your plan as a checklist as you proceed.

ntfsclone is a tool I have used with success to make backups, YMMV. It may be on the knoppix cd (if ntfsresize is there, then it should be included, too.) It is a very versatile tool- it can be used to backup-restore in a variety of ways. Two examples follow. I wrote this which has an example which shows a method for using ntfsclone using a network transport:

Without the network transport the command is simply:

ntfsclone -s -o windows.sf.c.imgdev-hda1

The advantage of using the "special format" ( -s ), is that the disc space consumed for the backup will closely match the used space on the parbreastion, not the the total parbreastion size.

-- Ripley: And you let him in.