1 Topic by Mike.lifeguard

  • Mike.lifeguard
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Topic: Cannot resize NTFS partition due to bad sectors

When trying to install Ubuntu, I wanted to use Gparted to setup the partitions: resize Windows (shrink) & add more for Ubuntu to use.

Gparted reports the disk has bad sectors. To fix this, I'm instructed to use chkdsk /f /r and reboot twice then I can safely use the --bad-sectors option of ntfsresize to do it. I've done that, but how can I make Gparted use --bad-sectors (or shall I use the commandline)?

2 Reply by class413

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Re: Cannot resize NTFS partition due to bad sectors

In case you use GParted from the Ubuntu install cd, please try the latest GParted livecd too. Ubuntu comes sometimes with older GParted versions. Sometimes an old version reports erroneously bad sectors.

I would recommend to check the drive with some special tool from the manufacturer's web page.

The option to ignore bad sectors is possible from the command line only (in a terminal window).

(moved to the live media section)

*** It is highly recommended to backup any important files before doing resize/move operations. ***

3 Reply by Mike.lifeguard

  • Mike.lifeguard
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Re: Cannot resize NTFS partition due to bad sectors

Thanks - I am indeed using the Gparted from ubuntu install CD... I haven't a space disc to burn a newer Gparted, but I guess I'll go shopping smile

Any hints on using terminal to ignore bad sectors? 'sudo parted' 'help resize' tells me the partition must be one of a list of types, not including NTFS and says nothing about ignoring bad sectors.

4 Reply by Arith

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Re: Cannot resize NTFS partition due to bad sectors

I would like to know how to enter the command --bad-sectors because I've got the same problem with the latest Gparted. But the manufacturers tools on long test and SMART and HD Tune and a dozen of other applications all report the disc is fine, ok, passed.

Before yesterday I had never heard of bash terminal sudo so don't know how to use them or even if I have to.

I ran chkdsk/f/r from windows dos and after 3 hours it didn't report anything unusual, but I thought the /f/r was for fixing, and later running from a live cd for chkdsk only got a report of one bad sector, so it couldn't have been repaired could it. But the Seatools long test was run after this giving a clean good disk.

Does Gparted use windows to check the disc?

5 Reply by Mike.lifeguard

  • Mike.lifeguard
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Re: Cannot resize NTFS partition due to bad sectors

Arith wrote:

I would like to know how to enter the command --bad-sectors because I've got the same problem with the latest Gparted. But the manufacturers tools on long test and SMART and HD Tune and a dozen of other applications all report the disc is fine, ok, passed.

Before yesterday I had never heard of bash terminal sudo so don't know how to use them or even if I have to.

I ran chkdsk/f/r from windows dos and after 3 hours it didn't report anything unusual, but I thought the /f/r was for fixing, and later running from a live cd for chkdsk only got a report of one bad sector, so it couldn't have been repaired could it. But the Seatools long test was run after this giving a clean good disk.

Does Gparted use windows to check the disc?

No, Gparted is a GUI frontend for parted, which is is a linux tool which does the heavy lifting of partitioning. From inside a live session after booting into the install CD, do Applications > Accessories > Terminal. That is where you will use text commands to run ntfsresize.

You will have to install ntfsresize with

sudo apt-get install ntfsprogs

then run ntfsresize --help to see what you're dealing with. A good tutorial (I followed the instructions exactly) is found at http://crashrecovery.org/CrashRecoveryK … .ntfs.html

That will safely resize your NTFS partition; once that's done, boot into Windows, run chkdsk and reboot into the install CD's live session again. Now there will empty space on the drive which Gparted will detect, and you can easily add more partitions (although I did this with fdisk from terminal as well) and then install linux on the new partitions.