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Asked: 2024-09-24T05:45:11+05:30 In:

What steps should I follow to perform manual partitioning during the installation process on Ubuntu?

I’m in the process of installing Ubuntu, and the option for manual partitioning keeps popping up. Honestly, I feel a bit overwhelmed by it. I know it’s supposed to give me more control over how my hard drive is organized, but I’ve never done it before!

I don’t want to mess things up and end up losing data, so I’m really hoping someone can help break it down for me. What are the actual steps I should follow to perform manual partitioning? It’d be great if you could walk me through the basics. Like, do I need to do anything special before I jump into manual partitioning? I’m worried about formatting or messing with existing partitions, especially since I’ve got other stuff on my drive that I really don’t want to touch.

I heard that using a tool like GParted can help, but I’m not entirely sure how to use it in tandem with the installation. Is that something I should do before starting the Ubuntu installation, or can I handle it within the installation itself? Also, what are some recommended sizes for partitions? Like, how much space should I allocate for the root, swap, and home partitions? I want to make sure I have enough space for my files and applications, but I don’t want to overdo it either.

And while we’re at it, any tips on best practices would be super helpful! Are there certain settings I should be wary of, or common pitfalls to avoid? The last thing I want is to finish the installation only to realize I’ve set things up wrong. I really appreciate any details you can share! Just looking for a clear path forward to help me avoid a disaster. Thanks a bunch!

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    1. Ubuntu Manual Partitioning Help

      Ubuntu Manual Partitioning Guide

      Manual partitioning can seem really overwhelming at first, especially if this is your first time. But don’t worry, I’ll break it down for you!

      Before You Start

      • Backup Your Data: First and foremost, back up any important files on your hard drive. This way, you won’t risk losing anything important during partitioning.
      • Understand Your Current Partitions: Use a tool like GParted if you’re worried about your existing partitions. You can run GParted from the live USB environment to see what you already have.

      Steps for Manual Partitioning

      1. Start Ubuntu Installation: Boot from your Ubuntu USB or DVD and select the “Try Ubuntu” option or go straight to installation.
      2. Select Manual Partitioning: When you reach the installation type screen, choose the manual partitioning option.
      3. Creating Partitions:

        • Root Partition (/): Create a partition for the operating system. Typically 20-30 GB is enough. Use ext4 file system.
        • Swap Partition: This is used for system memory management. A general rule of thumb is to set it the same size as your RAM or double if you plan on hibernating.
        • Home Partition (/home): This is where your personal files go. Allocate the rest of your space here. The more the better, if you store a lot of files!
      4. Format Partitions: Make sure to tick the format option on the partitions you create, except for the existing ones you want to keep.
      5. Finalize and Install: Review your changes. If everything looks good, you can proceed with the installation.

      Using GParted

      You can use GParted before starting the installation. It allows you to resize existing partitions and create empty spaces as needed. Just boot from your USB and select “Try Ubuntu” – you’ll find GParted in the applications menu.

      Recommended Sizes

      Here’s a quick overview:

      • Root (/): 20-30 GB
      • Swap: Same as RAM (or up to double if needed)
      • Home (/home): Remaining space on the drive

      Best Practices & Tips

      • Always double-check which partition you’re working on. Accidental formatting could lead to data loss!
      • If unsure about sizes, it’s better to leave more space for /home. You can always adjust if needed later.
      • Read any prompts during the installation carefully; they can help guide your decisions.

      Don’t stress too much about it! As long as you’re careful and backup your data, you should be fine. Good luck!


    2. Before diving into manual partitioning during the Ubuntu installation, it’s crucial to take some preliminary steps, especially since you have existing data on your drive that you want to protect. First, back up all important data to an external hard drive or cloud storage. This ensures that in case anything goes wrong, your files are safe. Once you’ve backed up your data, you can start the Ubuntu installation and when you reach the partitioning section, choose the “Something else” option for manual partitioning. At this point, you’ll see a list of existing partitions. Take care not to delete or format any partition that holds your important data. If you’re concerned about managing partitions safely, using GParted before commencing the Ubuntu installation is a good idea. GParted can help you visualize your hard drive layout by resizing or creating partitions without altering existing data, and you can launch it by booting from the Ubuntu live USB environment.

      When creating your partitions, the traditional setup includes a root partition (“/”), a swap partition, and a home partition (“/home”). For the root partition, a size of around 20-30 GB is usually sufficient for system files and applications, but feel free to allocate more if you plan to install many applications. The swap partition is typically set to be equal to your RAM size if you have less than 8 GB of RAM, or around half of your RAM otherwise. Finally, allocate the remainder of your drive’s space to the home partition, which will store your personal files. This separation simplifies data management and ensures that system files and personal files are organized. Always double-check the mount points and format types (ext4 is standard for Linux) before finalizing the partitions. Common pitfalls include neglecting to set the bootable flag on the root partition and miscalculating the partition sizes. By following these guidelines, you can confidently proceed with manual partitioning in Ubuntu without risking your existing data.

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