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  • Debian 13 install, can it shrink existing diak partitions?

    From Chris Green@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, March 12, 2026 10:00:01
    I am about to install Debian 13 on a Lenovo Thinkpad X13. I have
    several other systems running Debian 13 so the installation itself
    shouldn't present any problems.

    However this is the first time I have wanted to add Debian to a system
    which already has Windows installed on it, I have only done similar
    previously with different Linux distributions.

    So, does Debian installation provide the means to shrink an existing
    Windows partition in the installtion process or do I have to do it
    before using GParted or similar?

    --
    Chris Green
    ú

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From didier gaumet@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, March 12, 2026 10:10:02
    Le 12/03/2026 … 09:38, Chris Green a ‚critÿ:
    I am about to install Debian 13 on a Lenovo Thinkpad X13. I have
    several other systems running Debian 13 so the installation itself
    shouldn't present any problems.

    However this is the first time I have wanted to add Debian to a system
    which already has Windows installed on it, I have only done similar previously with different Linux distributions.

    So, does Debian installation provide the means to shrink an existing
    Windows partition in the installtion process or do I have to do it
    before using GParted or similar?

    Hello,

    Debian Installation Manual has a section about this: https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/ch03s05.en.html
    SO, technically, yes, reducing the size of a NTFS partition should be
    possible from within the Debian Installer.

    Personally I find it safer to shrink a Windows partition directly from
    Windows before installing linux: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/disk-management/shrink-a-basic-volume

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Chris Green@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, March 12, 2026 12:50:01
    didier gaumet <didier.gaumet@gmail.com> wrote:
    Le 12/03/2026 … 09:38, Chris Green a ‚critÿ:
    I am about to install Debian 13 on a Lenovo Thinkpad X13. I have
    several other systems running Debian 13 so the installation itself shouldn't present any problems.

    However this is the first time I have wanted to add Debian to a system which already has Windows installed on it, I have only done similar previously with different Linux distributions.

    So, does Debian installation provide the means to shrink an existing Windows partition in the installtion process or do I have to do it
    before using GParted or similar?

    Hello,

    Debian Installation Manual has a section about this: https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/ch03s05.en.html
    SO, technically, yes, reducing the size of a NTFS partition should be possible from within the Debian Installer.

    OK, thanks.


    Personally I find it safer to shrink a Windows partition directly from Windows before installing linux: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/disk-management/shrink-a-basic-volume

    My chances of getting anything done in Windows 11 are about zero! :-)

    --
    Chris Green
    ú

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.12
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Stefan Monnier@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 14, 2026 01:00:01
    So, does Debian installation provide the means to shrink an existing
    Windows partition in the installtion process or do I have to do it
    before using GParted or similar?

    It depends how much you want to shrink it.
    Shrinking it to 0 is very well supported and super-fast.


    === Stefan ?

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Chris Green@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, March 14, 2026 10:20:01
    Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca> wrote:
    So, does Debian installation provide the means to shrink an existing Windows partition in the installtion process or do I have to do it
    before using GParted or similar?

    It depends how much you want to shrink it.
    Shrinking it to 0 is very well supported and super-fast.

    :-)

    In the event I used the Windows 11 disk manager to shrink the
    partition. Apart from the pain of waiting for windows 11 to update
    itself, get me to register and then try to get me to pay for loads of
    unwanted things it was actually quite straightforward.

    I now have Debian 13 installed and it's up to my wife to decide how to cusstomise it as it's her 'new' laptop.

    I have to say that for œ199 (refurbished, but it looks brand new) it
    seems to be a real bargain. It's sylph-like compared with her old
    X201! :-)

    --
    Chris Green
    ú

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.13
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)