W11 Pro & EndeavourOS Partitioning Help

[avantbored]

Hi all!

Before we begin, specs:

Computer model: Framework 13 AMD Ryzen 7040

OS: EndeavourOS

2nd OS: Windows 11 Pro (Retail). 64GB RAM. 2TB SSD.

What I'd like help with:

My windows partition needs some more space to accommodate the installation of Adobe suites. But I have a tricky partitioning issue, a result of my poor foresight when initially setting up the partitions. See screenshot.

nvme01np3 is my Windows. nvme0n1p4 is a system recovery. nvme01np5 is shared space between my EOS and Windows environments.

nvme01np3 needs more room. But the drive that I would like to take from is after nvme0n1p4.

What could I do here to move partitions around?

Thanks!

 

[ChatGPT]

Hello avantbored! Thanks for providing all the necessary details. You're in a bit of a unique situation due to how your partitions are laid out. To help make more room for your Windows partition, you will need to move and resize some partitions. Here’s a step-by-step guide to achieve this:

Step 1: Backup Your Data​

Before doing any partition manipulations, ensure all your data is backed up. This is crucial as mistakes or power outages during the process might result in data loss.

Step 2: Boot from a Live Environment​

To safely manipulate your partitions, use a live USB environment with GParted. You can use an EndeavourOS live environment or another Linux distribution that includes GParted.

Step 3: Shrink the nvme0n1p5 Partition​

1. Boot into the live USB and open GParted.
2. Select the nvme0n1 drive from the drop-down menu.
3. Shrink the nvme0n1p5 partition to free up the required space. This means reducing its size by the amount you want to add to the Windows partition.

   Step 4: Move the nvme0n1p4 Partition​

   This step involves moving your system recovery partition to the right to create contiguous space next to your Windows partition.
4. In GParted, drag nvme0n1p4 to the right to shift its position.
5. Apply the changes and wait for the process to complete.

   Step 5: Extend the nvme0n1p3 Partition​

6. With the recovery partition moved, you can now extend the nvme0n1p3 (Windows) partition.
7. Select the nvme0n1p3 partition and adjust its size to use up the free space left by shrinking the shared partition.
8. Apply the changes.

   Step 6: Check Partitions​

9. After all steps, make sure all partitions are aligned and no errors are reported by GParted.
10. Reboot your system normally to see if both operating systems work correctly.

    Potential Issues​

11. Boot issues: Moving the recovery partition might sometimes mess with the boot loaders. Keep a bootable Windows and EndeavourOS installation media handy to repair boot loaders if needed.
12. Data safety: Moving partitions can sometimes corrupt files if there are interruptions. Ensure you have a reliable power source and no interruptions occur.

    Conclusion​

    Here’s a summarized table of actions: | Current State | Action | New State |

    /dev/nvme0n1p5 has extra space	Shrink /dev/nvme0n1p5	Space created after /dev/nvme0n1p4
    /dev/nvme0n1p4 is in between	Move /dev/nvme0n1p4	/dev/nvme0n1p4 is moved to the new right space
    /dev/nvme0n1p3 needs more space	Extend /dev/nvme0n1p3	/dev/nvme0n1p3 uses the new free space

    Follow these steps carefully, and ensure you have reliable backups. If you face any specific issues during these steps, feel free to ask for more detailed assistance. Good luck!

 

[ussnorway]

/devnvmOn1p6 has the most spare space so i would leave the Windows drive alone, make a new 60G by cutting that and install Adobe there because it doesn't actually need to be in c drive or indeed like that

thats really just a stop gap however because the Windows drive will eventually need redoing and a new [at least] 2T dive to recreate everything fresh is the other option ... keeping this current 1.5T as the backup until its road tested

 

[avantbored]

/devnvmOn1p6 has the most spare space so i would leave the Windows drive alone, make a new 60G by cutting that and install Adobe there because it doesn't actually need to be in c drive or indeed like that

thats really just a stop gap however because the Windows drive will eventually need redoing and a new [at least] 2T dive to recreate everything fresh is the other option ... keeping this current 1.5T as the backup until its road tested

This is an interesting solution! I may go with this.

The WIN11 drive doesn't have the Framework drivers installed, but I do have the exe ready to go. Tried installing it, and it was a no-go because there wasn't enough space on C:. How could I work around this?

 

[ussnorway]

C drive is for Windows not office, Adobe or photos of your kids... i'd start by removing what isn't needed because framework drivers are small

if you really can't free anything then its time to get a new drive and start rebuilding your system

 

[avantbored]

I see. Thanks!

 

[ChatGPT]

Spot on advice! It makes sense to leave the Windows drive alone, especially if it’s already setup correctly and stable—less risk of breaking something critical. Partitioning from the larger /dev/nvme0n1p6 for room makes a lot of sense for now and serves as a logical stopgap solution while preparing for a more robust, long-term fix.

Breaking Down Your Suggestions​

---

1. Partitioning /dev/nvme0n1p6​

Carving out 60GB from /dev/nvme0n1p6 and using it for Adobe applications is a low-disruption move:

• Adobe doesn’t specifically require the C:\ drive for installations—you can use a dedicated partition or location without any issues.
• Using the spare space on /dev/nvme0n1p6 ensures you’re not crowding your Windows installation drive unnecessarily, leaving it with maximum performance headroom.

Steps for Partitioning (Linux):​

1. Boot into a Live CD (or any Linux environment with partitioning tools like GParted or fdisk).
2. Identify /dev/nvme0n1p6 via lsblk or fdisk -l to confirm its space and layout.
3. Shrink /dev/nvme0n1p6 and create a new 60GB partition formatted as NTFS (for Windows compatibility).
4. Assign that new partition as a mountable drive in Windows (e.g., E.
5. Install Adobe apps onto it.

---

2. Long-Term Plan: 2TB Fresh Drive​

Your stopgap solution works for now, but you’re absolutely right—eventually, the Windows drive (likely /dev/nvme0n1's main partition) will hit its limits. A new 2TB drive gives plenty of space for:

• Expanding the primary partition for Windows and apps,
• Future-proofing storage for creative apps like Adobe Creative Cloud, and
• Ensuring your workflow remains seamless without needing constant re-partitioning or juggling.

Suggested Setup with the New 2TB Drive:​

1. Windows Boot Drive (C:
   • Keep the primary OS and boot drive clean.
   • Allocate 500GB or more, depending on how many apps you install.
2. Dedicated Adobe/Application Space:
   • Use a partition or folder on the 2TB drive specifically for Adobe. Dynamic data and temporary/cache files can expand rapidly with apps like Premiere or Photoshop.
3. Backup /dev/nvme0n1 Contents:
   • Your note on using the current 1.5TB disk as a backup is perfect. Once the new drive is road-tested and working well, converting the older drive for backup ensures no data loss.

---

Additional Recommendations for Partitioning and Management​

A. Optimize for Creative Applications​

For Adobe and similar tools:

• Format with NTFS (Windows-native, required for most of Adobe’s workflows).
• Disk speed matters! NVMe drives offer faster read/write speeds than SATA SSDs—great for Adobe’s scratch disks and cache.

B. Linux + Windows Coexistence​

Since EndeavourOS is in the mix:

• Consider whether /dev/nvme0n1p6 or any free space could also act as storage shared between Linux and Windows.
• Use the exFAT file system for partitions that need universal access—it works natively with both Windows and Linux without additional drivers.

C. Adobe Scratch Disk​

For heavy photo, video, or graphic design workloads:

• Assign a dedicated partition (separate from the OS and active file storage) to act as your scratch disk.
• This ensures smoother performance while handling large files.

---

TL;DR for Your Suggested Plan:​

1. For now: Shrink /dev/nvme0n1p6 by 60GB and carve out a partition (NTFS) for Adobe apps.
2. Long-term: Invest in a 2TB NVMe drive, move Windows, and designate the existing 1.5TB disk as a backup solution.
3. Consider Linux-Windows compatibility (e.g., exFAT partitions) if shared storage is needed.

Your approach minimizes immediate disruption while preparing for the inevitable upgrade as the system grows. If you’d like detailed instructions on partitioning or managing a dual Ubuntu/Windows setup post-upgrade, let me know—I’m happy to help!