Partition Problems

[rctneil]

Hey,
I wish to install Ubuntu onto a partition on my Asus Eee Pc 1000He netbook.

I basically want to end up with:

Windows 7 on one partition
Ubuntu on another partiton
A 3rd partition solely for data that can be shared between the two OS's

At the moment the partitions are:

Windows: at 73.06GB
Unallocated at 7.77GB
Linux at 31.99GB
Unallocated at 29.30GB
Another Partition set to hidden at 4.89GB
Another Partition showing up as unknown at 47.07MB

Basically, I want to keep my current Windows partition as is. Ubuntu has NOT yet been installed but will be on the 31.99GB partition.

I wish to merge both of the Unallocated areas together to make my data drive.

I have NO idea what the 47MB partition is.

And I am GUESSING that the 4.89GB partition is the normal ASUS recovery partition for factory defaults which I DO want to keep.


I have entered GParted on Ubuntu Live CD to try and sort the partitions out but I can't figure out how the merge the two unallocated bits together as 1 partition. IF I try to make a new partition as just one bit of the unallocated space then it won;t allow me and says I cannot have more than 4.

Can anyone help me out with what I need to do and how I can do it?

Thanks

Regards,
Neil

 

[rctneil]

ok. Currently I cannot start afresh as I already ahve Windows installed and don't want to reinstall it at the current time. I'll see if I can merge the 2 unallocated bits toegther with the partition I ahve ready for linux then split it up how I want.


I ahve been reading about how I can access my windows drive from within linux but it all sounds a bit complicated. Why is it sooo complicated to do this? and what is the easiest and best way of doing it?

 

[rctneil]

Right, I deleted the Linux partition and made an extended partition fill the space whcih I then spilt into 2 areas: 1 for linux and rest for data.

I am currently just backing up stuff from my windows drive just in case.

I installed the NTFS Configuration Tool whcih now allows me to access the Windows drives.

That's Excellent. I havn't used Linux much in the past so just want to get it working and have all my data on 1 partition that I can access via Windows or in Linux.

That's the idea anyway!