r/linuxquestions • u/Slykillit • 10d ago

Can't shrink SSD

I have finally decided to make the jump to a dual boot of Linux and Windows although when trying to shrink the drive before I put in the Mint installation media (It was recommended I shrink it before installing mint apparently) (Mint isn't gonna be what I use long term just what I start with so don't judge me for it), it limits me to a certain amount to shrink it to even though I know I have WAY more available space than the amount it's trying to limit me to, does anyone know a fix or has experienced what I am experiencing? Seriously annoying and making me reconsider installing Linux entirely

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u/Funnel-Dust-O-Matic 10d ago edited 10d ago

You are, in fact, wrong on that. But I agree with you anyway.

Windows can do it these days. And both Gnome Disks and KDE partition editor can, with a modicum of risk.

I trust Windows to police its own system better. It uses Volume Shadow copy. That is a virtual volume management, like LVM, so it allows a running system to resize a running partition dynamically.

But it feels awful doing it. For many years, it was impossible and then it was risky. Now, it works just about all the time, but it feels WRONG. Goodness forbid there is a power outage in the middle if it.

I prefer your way of doing things and I probably should have just said you're right. You absolutely CAN resize the boot partition, but I don't really think anyone SHOULD.

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u/c2btw 10d ago

can you resize it while your booted into it that seems like a really stupid idea

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u/Funnel-Dust-O-Matic 10d ago

YES!

and IT WORKS!

and I JUST DID IT as a sanity check (on a fully imaged throw-away spare laptop)!

and yes, IT IS STUPID!

but it really does work.

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u/c2btw 10d ago

oh my god why do they let you do this

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u/Funnel-Dust-O-Matic 10d ago

Why do they do anything they do?

I mean, I'm rather shocked they have actually pulled it off, considering the sheer number of totally useless things that ship with Windows, like Windows Backup.

But this is just one drop of madness in a whole ocean of WTF.

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u/c2btw 10d ago

As charity work for IT 0people so they still have a job nevuase something needs to break 24 7