Likely MBR / partition table issues after moving or resizing some partitions?
by LenHoff from LinuxQuestions.org on (#522H6)
Mint 18.1 - I need to enlarge some partitions, including /; probably w/ Gparted Live.
Already BUpped /home using Deja-Dup.
There are (2) 1TB WD disks. One has Linux & the other Vista (dual booted - Grub2)- only for emergencies.
Some Linux directories are on separate partitions :
swap - don't use
/usr/local
/opt
/home
/var
/tmp
A couple of those partitions may need moving, to allow enlarging /home & /opt.
There are a couple of non-Linux data partitions near outside of the disk (NTFS) - a non-issue.
Reading several tutorials for diff tools BU tools, one issue is whether to BU the "hidden data between the MBR & first partition." My 1st partition is root /.
** I believe one source said Grub may store data there, but didn't give many details why you should / shouldn't back it up. Any ideas on that?
A Clonezilla tutorial https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/...lla.html,talks only about BU / clone of the 1st partition (I assume it had only one Linux partition. Not so in my case.
Quote:
Here, I'm NOT just backing up & restoring the same size partition, unless something craters & I have to revert to the current layout.
I will enlarge the / partition, but shouldn't be any data moving in the 1st partition - just adding unalloc. space to sda1 partition, from its right (in GParted).
Others will require moving & some enlarging, e.g., /home, /var, /tmp, but not changing their relative order.
** Does GParted generally handle updating partition tables AND leaving the required # of unallocated sectors when partitions are resized, moved or both, using live CD?
** Or might I have to manually edit partition table info? GParted manual has a section on "Creating a New Partition Table," but little info on when/ why it may be needed.
I'm just curious how common it to have partition table or booting issues after moving & resizing 'Nix partitions.
Already BUpped /home using Deja-Dup.
There are (2) 1TB WD disks. One has Linux & the other Vista (dual booted - Grub2)- only for emergencies.
Some Linux directories are on separate partitions :
swap - don't use
/usr/local
/opt
/home
/var
/tmp
A couple of those partitions may need moving, to allow enlarging /home & /opt.
There are a couple of non-Linux data partitions near outside of the disk (NTFS) - a non-issue.
Reading several tutorials for diff tools BU tools, one issue is whether to BU the "hidden data between the MBR & first partition." My 1st partition is root /.
** I believe one source said Grub may store data there, but didn't give many details why you should / shouldn't back it up. Any ideas on that?
A Clonezilla tutorial https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/...lla.html,talks only about BU / clone of the 1st partition (I assume it had only one Linux partition. Not so in my case.
Quote:
| "-j2 allows cloning hidden data between MBR and the first partition - This refers to disk sectors 1-62 between MBR, which rests in sector 0 and the first partition, which starts at sector 63 for legacy reasons. Bootloaders like GRUB may keeps data there. Backing up this data does not hurt, although if you are only backing up and restoring partitions, this area will remain untouched." |
I will enlarge the / partition, but shouldn't be any data moving in the 1st partition - just adding unalloc. space to sda1 partition, from its right (in GParted).
Others will require moving & some enlarging, e.g., /home, /var, /tmp, but not changing their relative order.
** Does GParted generally handle updating partition tables AND leaving the required # of unallocated sectors when partitions are resized, moved or both, using live CD?
** Or might I have to manually edit partition table info? GParted manual has a section on "Creating a New Partition Table," but little info on when/ why it may be needed.
I'm just curious how common it to have partition table or booting issues after moving & resizing 'Nix partitions.