Shrink Windows partition to permit a UBUNTU partition

[Vitorio Okio]

On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:04:35 -0400, elmo wrote:

> A friend wants to install UBUNTU 8.04 on his computer that already has
> Windows XP.
> 
> Defrag did open some space at the end of the current Windows partition
> but my estimation is that it may not be large enough for a decent sized
> UBUNTU partition.
> 
> Windows Defrag indicates that there are several spaces between data
> blocks in the C: partitiom so if there was a more effective defrag,
> there'd be plenty of space at the end of the C: partition for a UBUNTU
> installation.

this is normal windows behaviour.  it keeps so called mft zone and meta-
data files where it chooses to place them. windows does not allow moving 
them easily. (the windows defrag utility is not capable to move them.)  

thus applications like gparted or like will  report more space as used, 
since these zones and any space between them and the beginning of a 
partition will be included.

you need a good defragmenting program, e.g. perfectdisk by raxco or like, 
that is capable to move these zones and to consolidate the space.  

google either for perfectdisk or any other program that performs off-line 
defragmentation upon reboot.  any of them will resolve your problem.

> Can GPARTED do a safe job of shrinking the C: partition and create a
> decent sized UBUNTU partition without loss of Windows:data?

yes, gparted is absolutely safe. but still it's a good idea to make a 
full backup before doing such operations.

no, gparted woun't be able to consolidate the space wasted by the windows 
placing mft zone and meta-data in between a partition.

gparted is not a defragmenter. it's just out of its scope. it will 
honestly report the space "used" on you partition including the size of 
the zones mentioned above plus any space between these and data in the 
begining of your drive.