Re-Partitioning without Rebooting?

[James Gray]

On Tue, 6 Sep 2005 05:36, Andreas Schildbach wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> I am trying to re-partition my harddrive without rebooting (of course I
> don't touch the partition I'm currently working on). However, everytime
> I am writing the modified partition table with fdisk, the following
> message appears:
>
> --- snip ---
>
> Command (m for help): w
> The partition table has been altered!
>
> Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.
>
> WARNING: Re-reading the partition table failed with error 16: Device or
> resource busy.
> The kernel still uses the old table.
> The new table will be used at the next reboot.
> Syncing disks.
>
> --- snip ---
>
> Why is the device busy? How can I prevent the reboot?

Is the drive unmounted when you're repartitioning??  If not, then then it 
will be in use (by the kernel).  You can repartition stuff without 
rebooting *but* the drive needs to _unmounted_ first.

If you're trying to repartition the drive that has your root file system 
then you're out of luck - boot from a Knoppix CD, or something similar, and 
repartition that way.

Trying to repartition a mounted drive is like trying to change a tyre while 
the car is still moving...possible; but your car will crash and burn and 
you'll probably break a few fingers in the process ;)

HTH,

James
-- 
What UNIVERSE is this, please??
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