Resize a fat32 partition using linux 3.0

rjrjr · 2011-12-10 21:15:02

So I have an external hdd that I use as a backup/archive, and it is formatted using fat32. It is 315GB listed, and 293gb actual. It has about 183gb of data on it, and 110 free. I want to keep some of the data, but also switch the whole thing to ext4. My plan was to shrink the partition, use the free space to copy over the stuff I want, reformat the rest over to ext4, then merge the partitions.

Apparently as of parted 0.9.0 you can no longer resize fat32 partitions. Is there another utility that I can use to make this happen? Specifically, one that will work with the linux 3.0 kernel? I don't have another drive big enough to get everything onto it, so I need to find a way to keep everything on the drive as I flipflop everything around.

Thanks!

karol · 2011-12-10 21:18:20

Partition operations are dangerous and you're advised to back up your stuff. If you don't can't do a proper backup, I would think twice before proceeding.

Gusar · 2011-12-10 21:58:01

The kernel version is irrelevant for resizing operations. Tools matter, but you're correct, the only Linux tool that was capable of resizing fat32, isn't capable of it anymore. So copy the data to some other disk, and partition this disk from scratch.

Or compile yourself an older version of parted, I'd say they still work.

.:B:. · 2011-12-10 22:50:54

How about the Gparted live CD? I have used it often and while it may be slow, it works wonderfully.

ozar · 2011-12-10 22:52:31

rjrjr wrote:

Is there another utility that I can use to make this happen? Specifically, one that will work with the linux 3.0 kernel?

Yes, I just took a look at the latest gparted on the PartedMagic LiveCD and it still offers the option to resize FAT32 partitions. I didn't test it, but the option is certainly there.

edit: oops, looks like I was typing out a response when B pressed ENTER!

Last edited by ozar (2011-12-10 22:54:05)

graysky · 2011-12-10 22:55:05

Do you have any free space else where?

1) Copy entire drive to temp space
2) Repartition and format to ext4
3) Copy back

Gusar · 2011-12-11 00:07:06

ozar wrote:

Yes, I just took a look at the latest gparted on the PartedMagic LiveCD and it still offers the option to resize FAT32 partitions.

Quite possibly PartedMagic links gparted against an old libparted.

ozar wrote:

edit: oops, looks like I was typing out a response when B pressed ENTER!

Heh, PartedMagic != GParted LiveCD

rjrjr · 2011-12-11 18:48:46

Thanks for the responses, guys. Yeah, I am it a bit of a bind, and really should have done something about this sooner, because now I'm stuck. I'm starting to be unable to back up some files without renaming them to strip out special characters, etc, but it's becoming a problem during large batch backups. Unfortunately, I don't have another drive with enough space. When my laptop's hdd went I put in an 80gb x25m ssd, and it's nearly full. Sounds like a gparted cd could be the way to go.

Any bets on what the chances of me clobbering this would be?

Arch Linux

#1 2011-12-10 21:15:02

Resize a fat32 partition using linux 3.0

#2 2011-12-10 21:18:20

Re: Resize a fat32 partition using linux 3.0

#3 2011-12-10 21:58:01

Re: Resize a fat32 partition using linux 3.0

#4 2011-12-10 22:50:54

Re: Resize a fat32 partition using linux 3.0

#5 2011-12-10 22:52:31

Re: Resize a fat32 partition using linux 3.0

#6 2011-12-10 22:55:05

Re: Resize a fat32 partition using linux 3.0

#7 2011-12-11 00:07:06

Re: Resize a fat32 partition using linux 3.0

#8 2011-12-11 18:48:46

Re: Resize a fat32 partition using linux 3.0

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