Linux Gparted

Information

Gparted is one of the preinstalled packages for our r/Techsupport Rescue Media. If you are using this live image, you can skip the installation section.

How to install gparted

Refer below for installation instructions if you are not using our live image or want to install it on your own system.

Installing gparted

Debian / Ubuntu / Linux Mint:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install gparted

Fedora / RHEL / CentOS / AlmaLinux:

sudo dnf install gparted

Arch / Manjaro / CachyOS:

sudo pacman -Syu gparted

Working with a new disk

Create partition table

A disk needs a partition table made as the first step in formatting. This is generally an MBR/msdos or GPT table. GPT is preferred for all modern applications.

Important

MBR partition table has a limitation of a maximum of 2 TB per partition, so keep that in mind when using it.

Select a disk in Gparted from the drop-down in the top right

To create your table, hover over ‘device’ with your disk selected.

Create partition

To create a partition on a disk right click any unallocated space and choose ‘New’.

Choose your size and location on the disk by dragging the sliders, the entire box or entering values manually. It is recommended to make partitions starting at the head (start) of the disk and work your way right.

Primary partitions are the typical user partition. Logical or extended are for more advanced setups.

Typical file system types and uses are:

Type	OS Compatibility	Use	Limitations
NTFS	Windows, with read natively on Linux/BSD or MacOS	Windows OS and data partitions
ext2/3/4	Linux/BSD, with read on other OS via third party tools	Linux/BSD OS and data partitions
Fat32	Read/Write natively on most OS	Removable media	Fat32 file systems cannot hold files larger than 4GB
exFAT	Read/Write natively on most OS	Removable media
HFS/+	MacOS native with read on other OS via third party tools	MacOS OS and data partitions

Working with existing disks

Warning

Manipulating partitions is dangerous and can result in a loss of data. It is recommended you have your data/disks images backed up prior to executing the following procedures.

Please be familiar with how partitions can move

Enlarge/Move/Shrink partitions

To change the size of a partition right click it and choose ‘resize/move’. You can manipulate the size the same way as when making a new partition.

Enlarging

If enlarging a partition ensure you have enough empty space to the immediate right of the partition. If you do not, move the neighbor partition far enough right that you have space for your enlargement operation.

Shrinking

Shrinking is not recommended, make a new partition and move your data.

You can only shrink a partition as far as data is dispersed through a partition. A partition may need to be defragmented before significant size changes are possible.

Moving

Moving partitions takes a very long time. It is recommended that you restore data to an desired disk layout rather than change an existing one.

Finalizing changes

When you are done making changes to disk choose the ‘Check’ at the top to save those changes, confirm and the changes will start processing. If you shrunk, or moved partitions this can take a very long time.