Removing Media Direct 3.0 and Dual Booting

I replied to a similar thread some 10 days ago, but since it was kind of old I guess no one saw it. Here's the post I made on that thread, a bit changed around.


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Hey everyone.

I did a search with these terms "deleting media direct partition" and this one seems the thread most related to what I want to do.

So here's the thing. I got my Inspiron 9400 last november (I think that's E1705, or something, right?). First thing I did was delete everything and start all over with a clean HD. So with some minor quibbles I got a perfectly functional XP Media Center 2005. I also installed Media Direct 3.0 correctly (used it out a few times). I've been using this laptop for a while and you know what? I NEVER EVER use media direct because I feel the programs I use in windows for the same things are far more useful and flexible. I even tried booting Media Direct recently, and it plays audio and video files but without any sound at all. I tried fiddling with configurations for media direct and media center, but none helped. I certainly could try and repair it, but I just don't want to.

What I want to do is just get rid of all media direct partitions and stuff without having to reinstall XP and reclaim that wasted space. In fact, I'd like to make a dual boot into Ubuntu and XP, which I couldn't due to the limit on partitions and HD space. I really have no idea as to how to go about this without making my laptop inoperable at some point. I guess an added bonus would be to remap media direct button to boot into Ubuntu, but I think that's a bit asking for much.

Any tips I could use? First I would need some program where I could check the current state of the partitions on my hard drive without doing anything to it. Ideas?

 

A GParted LiveCD will allow you to check out the state of partitions you have, as well as make changes.

The Ubuntu LiveCD also has this program built in. I deleted the recovery partitions and MD2.0 when I received my Inspiron, though I also formatted XP to make more room for Linux.

You may be able to resize your partitions, but the best advice before you muck around with them is too back up your important data.

And install XP/Vista before Linux. Windows has a rotten bootloader, and doesn't list alternate OS'. Ubuntu's bootloader will play nice and automatically add Windows to the list.

 

I'll try the Gparted Live CD to check current status.

I guess this is a two stage process. First, I want to reclaim the HD space being used by the Media Direct partitions, thus creating a big huge partition that takes up all of my HD where XP is installed. I think this can be done without having to reinstall XP. It would be such a hassle to get it back to where I have it right now.

Second stage would be to resize that big partition and install Ubuntu. I understand the Ubuntu installation does that, but I'm not sure. What I do know is that it would have to be reformatted since it's in NTFS and Linux just doesn't get that, right?

What I definately have no idea how to do is that whole Grub business to manage the "bootability" of each partition and how they play together.