WIZARD’S RECOMMENDED READING
https://www.howtogeek.com/101862/ho...ndows-without-downloading-any-other-software/
and
http://www.partition-tool.com/resource/resize-partition-windows-7.htm
@LxCeeAB
OK Don, let’s focus on Larry for now, the 531s, since it is the target unit for this operation. If I seem overly repetitive of what you have said, I am doing it both for my own perspicacity, and for the benefit of any of The Viewers and Helpers whom might come along, rather than belabouring you with what you already know. Correct me with any of it as you see need.
Larry has, amongst other credentials and capabilities:
- a 298 GB HDD
- no internet access (yet, but can be remedied with inclusion of a NIC)
- Win 7 SP1 installed as the main OS
- EaseUS Partition Master on the Windows
Further, from your phone pic (& ta {Aussie for thanks, pron. “tar”}) Larry has:
- Windows 7 consuming 41 GB, and needs some space for growth, let alone a minimal overhead of extra space for functioning unimpeded
- A Recovery partition for Windows 7 (only). I do not understand the Lake & Lakefront references, but if that is personal, fine.
On the face of it, it would seem to be the case that not just PCLOS, but a number of Linux, (if you wished to multiboot) could be installed.
However (there's always a however), the following may apply, and you may know some, all, or none of it:
This style of computer is limited to a maximum of four (4) Primary Partitions, or three (3) Primary and one Extended Partition. This is a limitation, not of Linux, but of the MS-DOS/MBR (Master Boot Record) system.
In the case of very many OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), and that includes Dell, before they started to actually ship Linux in the shape of Ubuntu as an option – they would “fill up” the available partitions, I won’t point a finger at why, nor whom they had deals with. The outcome was it was difficult to install a Linux, or even Macintosh or Unix, as an alternative OS.
These firms would have your Windows partition, a separate system partition perhaps, a Recovery partition, &c using up the Primaries. At the same time as that, a lot stopped including System Install/Reinstall disks, saying you could use the Recovery Partition and Software (pretty impossible if your whole system goes down, and/or you have to replace an HDD).
So the important thing for you, Don, is to have a Recovery plan in place, for both your Windows to reinstall if it goes belly up, and security of personal data.
Once that is in place, we can outfox the 4 Primaries limitation, and give you plenty of space for PCLOS and any others (Linux) that might follow, should you desire.
A better picture for me/us of your current status quo on partitions can be provided, not by DrakX (but thanks) under the PCLOS install, but by one of the Windows options, that is :
- Windows Disk Management (see the HowToGeek article, or try, at Menu, entering diskmgmt.msc at an elevated command prompt) and/or
- EaseUS Partition Manager’s options (try to provide 2 or 3, like HTG article)
Once you have the info onscreen, Windows Snipping Tool (type snipping at menu) will capture a screenshot either in .png or .jpg format, which you can post up to us as you did the phone pic.
Try to provide this when you are “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed”.
third is removable (not sure what that is in reference),
The “removable” tag is often used on older equipment’s BIOS/Setup to refer to a USB device other than a USB stick, eg a connected device such as a USB (powered or unpowered) external HDD, or other storage device. I cannot be certain here.
still not getting an email when any posts are made to this thread.
Mate, did you follow my input on #17 page 1, and what results or not did it generate?
All for now, have some voodoo and sorcery to perform on the Toshiba, and once I power down this Acer, it may fall over for a day or two, but I will be around.
Cheers
Wizard
BTW Welcome
@Lazydog, like the signature and the avatar, lol.