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NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2024 02:58:20 +0000
Subject: Re: Fwd: shrink drive c: to install a new operating system
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc,alt.comp.os.windows-10
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From: "186282@ud0s4.net" <186283@ud0s4.net>
Organization: wokiesux
Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2024 21:58:19 -0500
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On 12/25/24 12:08 PM, Paul wrote:
> On Tue, 12/24/2024 8:12 PM, 186282@ud0s4.net wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> -------- Forwarded Message --------
>> From: 23 2024 <>
>> X-Mozilla-Status: 0001
>> X-Mozilla-Status2: 00800000
>> X-Mozilla-Keys: Subject: Re: shrink drive c: to install a new operating system
>> Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10
>> References: <87r05wvnj2.fsf@example.com>
>> From: 186282@ud0s4.net <186283@ud0s4.net>
>> Organization: wokiesux
>> Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2024 20:11:22 -0500
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>> On 12/24/24 3:22 PM, Salvador Mirzo wrote:
>>> Please followup-To alt.comp.os.windows-10.  (Note this is not just a
>>> Windows question, but I believe the Windows newsgroup is more
>>> appropriate: perhaps there are other system's shrinking tool that could
>>> help me here.  Thanks for any ideas.)
>>>
>>> I'm interested in installing a new operating system.  Haven't decided
>>> which yet---perhaps FreeBSD, perhaps GNU Guix.  I've got 195 GiB free in
>>> my c: drive plus 655 MiB unallocated which I was able to get from
>>> shrinking the c: drive using the Windows 10 Disk Management tool.
>>>
>>>     Disk Management (how my storage looks right now)
>>>     https://prnt.sc/WZ1fF5S9ARJ1
>>>
>>> Disk Management is not able to shrink more.  It says it has been done
>>> what it could with those 655 MiB.
>>>
>>>     https://prnt.sc/ez9O5JUVUVXv
>>>
>>> I turned hibernation off, restarted and tried again.  Same thing.
>>> Looking at the defrag event in the application log, I find:
>>>
>>> --8<-------------------------------------------------------->8---
>>> A volume shrink analysis was initiated on volume (C:). This event log
>>> entry details information about the last unmovable file that could limit
>>> the maximum number of reclaimable bytes.
>>>      Diagnostic details:
>>>    - The last unmovable file appears to be: \System Volume
>>>      Information\{fba11b84-afde-11ef-adfe-48684ad40403}{3808876b-c176-4e48-b7ae-04046e6cc752}::$DATA
>>>    - The last cluster of the file is: 0x76e787e
>>>    - Shrink potential target (LCN address): 0x466119b
>>>    - The NTFS file flags are: ---AD
>>>    - Shrink phase: <analysis>
>>>      To find more details about this file please use the "fsutil volume
>>>    querycluster \\?\Volume{f5e639db-a758-4dfa-9804-d5d4d0286fb7}
>>>    0x76e787e" command.
>>> --8<-------------------------------------------------------->8---
>>>
>>> Using the fsutil command, I get:
>>>
>>> --8<-------------------------------------------------------->8---
>>> C:\Windows\system32>fsutil volume querycluster \\?\Volume{f5e639db-a758-4dfa-9804-d5d4d0286fb7} 0x76e787e
>>> Cluster 0x00000000076e787e used by ---AD \System Volume
>>> Information\{fba11b84-afde-11ef-adfe-48684ad40403}{3808876b-c176-4e48-b7ae-04046e6cc752}::$DATA
>>> --8<-------------------------------------------------------->8---
>>>
>>> Anything else I could try?  I have not tried to use other system's
>>> shrinking programs.  Could they do a better job?  Perhaps this is not
>>> the best newsgroup to ask this question.
>>
>>
>>    Winders can make a kind of a mess out of "C:" with
>>    'unmovable' files and 'recovery' stuff kinda scattered
>>    all around.
>>
>>    If you are using a desktop then just install another
>>    HDD and use that. Some laptops have a socket for another
>>    m12 card or similar. "-ix' systems are much smaller than
>>    Winders, so you don't need a huge second drive.
>>
>>    Otherwise, if even gparted or the 'Acronis' version
>>    for your existing HDD won't straighten it out there's
>>    little choice but to back up, manually format the
>>    disk with gparted into two distinct partitions and
>>    re-install Winders. Not terribly attractive ...
>>
>>    I've wondered if the Win scheme is a subtle form of
>>    Bill "linux-proofing" PCs  :-)
> 
> You worry too much :-) Windows and Linux live in complete harmony.
> 
> I just shrank a C: partition down to the minimal size.
> Nothing stands in my way. To do it, I need storage space.
> Either for a Macrium backup (.mring) or space for a clone-with-shrink.
> 
>     [Picture]
> 
>      https://i.postimg.cc/52DsrbVW/Shrinking-With-Backup-Clone-Software.gif
> 
> While the Disk Management has overly conservative usage of the
> Defrag API that prevents perfect control, not every software
> developer has a limited imagination.
> 
> And the evidence of skill and the usage of Test Benches by the
> external developers, comes from their bug rate. Which for Macrium,
> is damn close to zero.
> 
> When I bought Acronis Disk Doctor, the very
> first test I did caused a corruption. Macrium does not do
> stuff like that. Acronis though, it promised to change cluster
> size on an NTFS volume. I looked at this and said "No, you
> can't do that". Well, I tested, and they *almost* pulled
> it off, except some of my System32 files had zero size after
> it was finished. A kind of "dumpster fire". I had a backup before
> testing the only "stretch" feature the tool had, and I was not
> really all that surprised at the result.
> 
> It's the same anywhere, YOU test the quality in, because
> people you cannot see, may or may not care all that much.
> In the previous paragraphs, are two diametrically opposed results.
> Careful developers and... the other kind.
> 
> If you use a third party tool, it can take part time testing
> for months, to conclude what kind of developers they were.


   Things like Acronis and Macrium ... I've had many successes
   AND a few 'dumpster fires'. Sorry, nothing's perfect for every
   possible need.

   To clear space for Linux, do a FULL backup of yer Win
   partition, format/partition the HDD, then use the
   restore options to 'make it fit' the now-smaller
   Win partition. This USUALLY works.

   In any case, it's NOT as easy as in the 'old days' - and
   I still suspect that's intentional.

   IF possible, the secondary disk really IS the easiest
   way to go. Even 250gb is usually more than enough for
   most any sane -IX distro to work with unless you're
   storing huge videos locally.