Partitioning in SuSE rather than Windows
 
(Note: This was made to help with people installing OpenSuse, however this process is adaptable to many other activities)
 
Getting to Disk Management way #1:
1. Click Start
2. Right Click My Computer/Computer and select "Manage"
 

 
2.5) Accept the UAC dialogue in Vista
3. Under Storage on the left side, select Disk Management.
 

 
Getting to Disk Management way #2:
1. Go to Start>Control Panel>Administrative Tools
2. Select Computer Management
2.5) Accept the UAC dialogue in Vista
3. Under Storage on the left side, select Disk Management
 

 
Shrinking your partition/disk:
1. Right click on the partition you wish to shrink. The area created by the shrink will be where we are installing OpenSuSE
2. Select "Shrink Volume"
 

 
3. After it determines space available, you should see something like the following:

 
4. Enter the amount you wish to make the new partition in the box available to type in. Note this is in MB! For example, 40 GB would be 40000 MB. I recommend around 30 to 40 GB, however 20 GB is a bare minimum in my opinion.
 
5. Select "Shrink" and wait
 
Creating a partition from the Unallocated Space
1. After the Unallocated Space is created (it should have a black bar over it), right click it and select "New Simple Volume"
2. Hit Next
3. Make sure that the number entered in the box is the total size of the partition that you just defined. Hit next
4. Choose whatever letter you desire, it will not matter during the installation
5. This step is important. Label your drive what you wish. I usually chose Linux or something like that. This will help you differentiate the different partitions during install. Check "Preform Quick Format" as well. Hit next

 
6. Click Finish
 
Coming soon: Installing OpenSuSE

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When I go to shrink it says only 516 mb are available to shrink! There's over 90Gb free space, so how can I increase the shrink size? Clicking the up arrow don't help.
 
It says snapshots or pagefiles if enabled lower the shrink size.

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There is a God www.ie6nomore.com
Glomping the internet populace One forum at a time.

Really? When was the last time you defragmented? Sometimes, if there is only a small area of contiguous space that may happen.

Make sure you defragment in Safe Mode, you can better defrag, plus it goes quicker as there aren't things in the background that are running.

Also, if you don't use hibernation, use Disk Cleanup and remove the Hibernation File Cleaner, it can free up at least 5 GB of space on average.

EDIT: If you need to defrag, use JkDefrag. It is small, fast and is one of the best ones in my opinion.
http://www.kessels.com/Jkdefrag/

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Glomping the internet populace. One forum at a time.

LOL, maybe you set your Virtual Memory to 90GB?

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One forum at a time.

I defragged a few days ago... I'll defrag in safe mode in a minute, wipe out some stuff with disk cleanup, and then see if it's any better.

Haha, I wouldn't know how Uttaresh

And hibernation file cleaner is only 1.99Gb

Well it's cleaning up 2.07Gb - not bad I guess Then I'll go safe mode.

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There is a God www.ie6nomore.com
Glomping the internet populace One forum at a time.

Wow, that is a small Hibernation File Cleaner. Mine always uses upwards of 5 GB, lol.

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Glomping the internet populace. One forum at a time.

Currently defragging in safe mode, in 10mins it has done 2%... having to use defraggler as vista defrag tool isn't loading, very annoying. Currently on my Touch.

Edit: oh it just did 3% in a few mins, momentary speed boost

lol, you should have used JkDefrag like I said...

If you are in Safe Mode with Networking, you can still download it...

Also, my attempt to work with OpenSuSE from my virtual partition has failed. I'm trying an alternate method now...
It probably failed since I was manually creating the partitions with the YaST. I'll try doing it before installation.

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Glomping the internet populace. One forum at a time.

Didn't see the edit

EDIT: Wow, is that what the spread of files on my drive looks like? Files, black gap, files, GIANT black gap, files.

EDIT2: And also, the drive I'm trying to shrink is my main one with Vista installed, might that affect if I'm allowed to shrink it a lot?

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There is a God www.ie6nomore.com
Glomping the internet populace One forum at a time.

Completely defragged the drive, cleaned it up with file cleaner, etc - and still only gives 516mb of space...
 
On main vista partition with pagefiles and restore points.

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There is a God www.ie6nomore.com
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Delete old restore poins..

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I was just going to say that as well. That can remove at least 20 GB as well. As for pagefiles, I'll look into that as well.
 
Also, I figured out doing it in XP as well. I'll post that soon.
 
You can partition the XP drive, as long as you aren't in Windows. I found http://www.partition-tool.com/
Their software is small and easy to use. You define the changes you want, it restarts and applies them, and then you have the partitions you need. It is actually quite simple. Then you would proceed with installation. I will be making a tutorial with that as well.
 
EDIT: If you are using a 64 Bit version of XP or Vista, you will need to download the trial of the Pro version, as that one supports 64 bit. 32 bit can download the Home edition for free. (you can't apply operations in the trial.)
I may also just make one for GParted as Legace recommended as well.

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Old restore points deleted, space available for shrink... 516mb.
 
Deleted all restore points and turned off system restore... 516mb.
 
Hmph. (Setting new restore point before Vista realises it can escape...)

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Well, I guess you'll just have to do it in Linux then. Why must Vista be so evil! If only it was a mac, lol. Anyways...

I just tested using the Partitioner in SuSE, and it worked perfectly. I think I will just use that for this. XP needed to do a chkdsk, however I don't know why as it was fine.

I'll be posting that soon.

EDIT: I tested that with Gnome, so I'll do KDE next.

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I'll await your tutorial on installing SuSE then and do the partitioning at that end

Worst that can happen is having to do a repair install...

I found a few pieces of 3rd party stuff that apparently will happily partition my drive, but I'm scared about using it - it shrinks regardless of what's there

EDIT: I'm also running another defrag with PerfectDisk, which apparently will move all my stuff (files directories boot etc) to the "top" of the drive - in other words so there's a bunch of files, and then the free space all together at the "end". SMARTPlacement it's called Any thoughts? (Using free trial of Professional edition - 30 days of sweet defrag ) http://www.perfectdisk.com/features

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There is a God www.ie6nomore.com
Glomping the internet populace One forum at a time.

Sounds like when you optimize on a mac (something you should NEVER do btw. It makes a mac slower)
 
Moving to the front is a very good idea for partitioning. After you do that, I'd say run a regular defrag on what was moved, just to be safe.

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Ok, regular defrag going on now. And backing up my folder to a USB stick, and iTunes to some DVDs - I need to do a back up anyway... wow this week has become PC fixing and backup week for me

EDIT: Well, after that defrag, the available space for shrink is now... 8mb!!! Wow, that's stupid! God I hate Vista so much!!!

Following a tutorial on making shrink size bigger, by getting rid of some system stuff, then defragging at boot and then it should give more... hopefully...

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There is a God www.ie6nomore.com
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OK, little bump here: I'm using EASEUS partition manager, making the new partition...
 
Logical or Primary?
 
I've labelled it "Linux" and the size is right, letter F: and Cluser Size says Default...
 
EDIT: Ok, I have used 3 different programs, I have defragged over and over again with three different settings, and I have even used diskpart.exe and STILL nothing will work! I have disabled system stuff and pagefiles and everything under the sun, and still visat refuses to allow me to shrink - clearly it has stuck one stupid file at the end of my drive, one stupid file that is blood belligerent and refuses to move no matter what - DAMN VISTA!!!!!!!  

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There is a God www.ie6nomore.com
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Well, if you have a time, I would suggest a complete, new install. That way, you can create as many partitions of whatever size you like. Just DO NOT install Vista again. Go for Windows 2.0 if you have to, but do not get that damned OS in which the only improvement is a new theme, which they probably ripped off from CrystalXP in the first place.
 
You know, my partition for Windows has been at 12GB for 3-4 years now. I've wanted to expand it to 20GB, but well ... Windows just doesn't allow it ... even though I have around 100 GB free for music, movies, pornos, and now OpenSUSE.
 
Would anyone have a way of expanding my Windows partition by a few GB without having to re-install?

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Yea but I don't want to have to get XP or another one and re-install, then reinstall all my applications, move over all my files (haven't got a decent hard drive to do decent back-up).
 
If I can't change the partition I'll stick with Vista and live without OpenSuSE - simple life.

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There is a God www.ie6nomore.com
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Well, when I post the tutorial on install, it will include resizing partitions in Linux, so I'd just wait for that.

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Glomping the internet populace. One forum at a time.

Well, you could get another simple 40GB HDD. It should be VERY cheap, and you could use it as another partition(s) to install OpenSUSE.

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That's what I was thinking, though browsing internet and computer stores, I can't find any small ones, or any cheap ones... I'll get onto ebay and amazon and places - they'll be better than shops I suspect.
 
And thanks Tanhsin, can't wait for that tutorial!

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There is a God www.ie6nomore.com
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You can expect it by tonight (my time, I don't know what that would be for you though). The process is the same for Gnome and KDE, so don't worry about that as well.
 
I may have to help out my cousin with her computer over the internet soon, but that shouldn't take long.

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Glomping the internet populace. One forum at a time.

Sorry for the double post, but it is important.
 
This post contains instructions on repartitioning in OpenSuSE/YaST2, and then installing OpenSuSE.
I used OpenSuSE 11.1 Gnome in this tutorial, however the process is the same for KDE.
This was done with the Live CDs. If you are using the Install DVD, you should be using Windows to partition, unless you know how to manually allocate space for Swap, Root and Home partitions.
Another note, using a separate Hard Disk will always be simpler than partitioning, and safer as well as it is completely separate.
When removing Linux, be sure to rebuild the Windows boot manager, or else it will be like you have gotten the worst virus around, as you cannot boot. I recommend using BCDEdit or a similar tool to ensure that it is rebuilt properly.
 
Resizing and Creating Partitions with YaST2:
1. After booting from the CD, click the Start/Computer button on the bottom left. Click on YaST. (In KDE, use the System portion of the Computer/Start menu).
2. In YaST, click System and then open Partitioner.

 
3. Click Yes to continue past the Warning message.
4. Click the arrow next to "Hard Disks" and choose the drive you will be using. /dev/sda is your primary drive, /dev/sdb is your secondary, etc. You should be able to ID the drives by size. You should be at a screen that will be similar to this:

 
5. Choose the partition you wish to resize. This is identifiable by label or size, or both. In my case, I will be using /dev/sda1, which is my current partition for Windows. You should have at least 30 GB of free space to give up to SuSE. The install is small, however additional software will take up more space, etc.
Note: I strongly recommend naming your Windows partitions and other partitions prior to installation of SuSE, due to the lesser chance for error.
6. Click resize, the following window should appear, showing what you are using, what is free, and the size of the new partition you will be making:

 
7. Slide the slider to adjust the size of the partition now, however I follow the Unused Disk number in the upper right. Move the slider until the Unused Disk number reaches at least 30 GB (or whatever you will be using). You should see something like the following:

(Note: Colors are different in KDE, however the process is the same)
 
8. Now click the Add button. Select Primary Partiton, and hit next. Leave the selection at Maximum Possible, to utilize the full shrink size from before. Hit next. Have the partition format to Ext3 and do not mount the partition. Hit Finish. You should see something like this now:

 
9. Hit next to review the changes you will be making. Make sure that you are changing the partitions and drives you want, and hit finish. Be patient, and the operations will finish.
 
Installing OpenSuSE From the Live CD
1. Open Live Installer/Installer from the desktop
Note: If you get a message about removable media, eject the volume and continue. I've only had this happen in Gnome. Simply right click the volume and choose "Unmount Volume"
2. Choose your keyboard layout, and click next.

 
3. Choose your Time Zone and verify the current time. Change it as necessary. Usually, it is correct from the start.

 
4. Now, here is the critical part. If you followed everything correctly, you should see something like this:

 
The partition that we created earlier should be highlighted in red, and under that the installer will be automatically sub-dividing the partition. There should also be mount points being created to the Windows operating systems. If the installer did not correctly determine your setup, view the following.
 
4.5) To recreate the partition setup if it is not in the desired layout that you want, click Create Partition Setup. Choose the Hard Disk that we just set up earlier, followed by the partition(s) that you wish to use. You should then see something like the above picture.
 
5. Enter in the user information that it requires at this point.
6. Review the information that has been set in this step, once everything is to your liking, click Install twice to begin the installation.
 
Let it sit while it configures. You may see some error messages, especially about Plasma in KDE, however you just should click Ok or whatever it asks you to click in order to proceed. These should not affect the installation.
 
After install, you will see a message about removing the disk, after you see the message, hit Ok and restart the computer. When it restarts, be sure to use the Boot From Hard Disk option, as you no longer will need the CD, however you should not dispose of it. After SuSE configures itself, you can remove the disk, and you can begin using your new OS. Rebooting at this point will allow you to fully use the GRUB bootloader, and choose between OpenSuSE and Windows.
 
To change the default OS choice, use the Boot Loader options in YaST.
 
If you have any questions, post them here.
 
And seriously, double and triple check all of the options and partitioning, etc. You do not want to make mistakes. I seriously recommend backing up to a separate drive before installing, just to be safe.
 
Also, another indicator that I did not mention. By using the Ext3 format for the new partition, you can separate the NTFS partition, to the Linux Native partition.
 
I really hope this works out for you guys!
 
EDIT: Also, Windows may run a Checkdisk on the first boot after installation. It should only take a few seconds.

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