Change partitions?

[Rashkae]

Nils Kassube wrote:
> Ed Jabbour wrote:
>> Current partition table:
>>
>> sdb1, primary .............................. empty
>> sdb2, primary .............................. backup files
>> sdb3, ........................................... extended
>> sdb5, logical ................................. ubuntu installation
>> sdb6, logical ................................. swap
>>
>> I'd like it to be:
>>
>> sdb1, primary .............................. ubuntu installation
>> sdb2, primary .............................. backup files
>> sdb3, primary ............................... swap
>>
>> If possible, I want to avoid re-installation of the OS.  Is there any
>> way just to change the partitions, leaving whatever is on them intact? 
>> gparted's copy won't do it, I hear.  Any hints, pointers, etc. greatly
>> appreciated.
> 
> Could you be a bit more specific what you want to have in the end? What is 
> the size of the individual partitions now and what should it be after the 
> modification?
> 
> If sdb1 is big enough you could format that partition and then copy 
> everything from sdb5 to sdb1. But I suppose you also want to combine the 
> space of sdb1 and sdb5 which seems impossible to me.
> 

Not impossible at all, but giving step by step instructions on e-mail is
a bit too ambitious for me, sorry.

The process would be complex, as you have to move the existing sdb2 to
accomplish it.

No matter how you look at it, the only "sane" way to do this is to have
a second hard drive to use as temp storage, so you can copy data off the
drive, repartition, then copy back.