About the disk utility

Question

I've been trying to make partitions in my disk using the disk utility provided by Gnome. I've wasted the whole day yesterday searching this forum, other forums, other websites about HOW to use this utility in partitioning the HDD, but NOTHING... I came out with NOTHING. All I found was just material about its uses, how to open it and what it does. But nothing explains HOW to do the partitions. I don't want to improvise and end up breaking my machine. Can someone please tell me or even direct me to how I can use this utility to make a partition in my HDD? My HDD is 1 TB and it's in one single partition. My OS is 17.10.

I read in the reviews of the "GParted" that it's not working with Ubuntu 17.10!! Have you tried it? — Nermeen Hussein, Mar 04 '18 at 07:22
I think gparted is easier to use than 'Disks' alias gnome-disks. It works in 17.10 and Wayland according to the following link, Why don't gksu/gksudo or launching a graphical application with sudo work with Wayland? — sudodus, Mar 04 '18 at 08:45
Wayland is the new system for the graphical desktop. It is replacing Xorg. In Ubuntu 17.10, both are installed and you can select which one to use at the login screen. Click on the 'cog wheel' icon. — sudodus, Mar 04 '18 at 09:00
Sorry, I feel so ignorant. I have no idea what Xorg is, but anyway, where exactly is this cog wheel icon you're talking about? Can't find any to click on! — Nermeen Hussein, Mar 04 '18 at 10:55
I never get this cog wheel when I log in and out!!?? I wonder, is my system different? — Nermeen Hussein, Mar 04 '18 at 12:21
Did you make a fresh install of standard Ubuntu 17.10? Or have you got a community flavour (Kubuntu, Lubuntu, ..., Xubuntu? Or did you upgrade from a previous version of Ubuntu? — sudodus, Mar 04 '18 at 12:56
No, it's a fresh copy. Only installed 4 weeks ago. Clean install. — Nermeen Hussein, Mar 04 '18 at 13:01
Do you boot directly into the desktop (without log in)? Otherwise you should get the log in screen with the cog wheel. — sudodus, Mar 04 '18 at 13:04
No, I boot directly without any log in. Directly into the desktop. — Nermeen Hussein, Mar 04 '18 at 13:06
Then I think you will get to the log in screen, if you select log out, and then you will see the cog wheel, and you can select between 'Ubuntu' which means using Wayland and 'Ubuntu on Xorg' (which means using Xorg). Try that! I think the system will remember your choice, so that it will be used even after reboot. Check what is used i a terminal window with the command line echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE — sudodus, Mar 04 '18 at 13:18
I tried this already. I logged out and the only option I get is to put my password and log in again, no cog wheel whatsoever!! I tried your command at the command line and it gave me: Wayland. Does this mean I can install "gparted"?? — Nermeen Hussein, Mar 04 '18 at 13:39

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 04 '18 at 14:23

1

I found the answer here: https://itsfoss.com/switch-xorg-wayland/

Simply:

Use the command below

xhost +si:localuser:root

and then run the troublesome program with sudo like this:

sudo -H gparted

I tried it and it worked.

edited Mar 04 '18 at 14:23

sudodus

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answered Mar 04 '18 at 14:01

Nermeen Hussein

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Yes, this is the basic method that works in Wayland :-) But you should use sudo -H gparted (Always use sudo -H with graphical (GUI) programs. Otherwise your normal user ID's configuration files can be hijacked by 'root'.) – sudodus Mar 04 '18 at 14:08
Ok, so this means. First I put the command:
xhost +si:localuser:root

Then:

sudo -H gparted

Right??
– Nermeen Hussein Mar 04 '18 at 14:10
Yes, that is correct. Or you can create a function gks according to this link, https://askubuntu.com/questions/961967/why-dont-gksu-gksudo-or-launching-a-graphical-application-with-sudo-work-with-w/961978#961978 save it and re-use it, which might be more convenient, if you intend to use elevated permissions with graphics in Wayland often. So please modify your answer to avoid confusing other people. – sudodus Mar 04 '18 at 14:13
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@NermeenHussein Either that or issue xhost +si:localuser:root in a terminal window and then start gparted from the GUI (Win-key, type "gpar..." and click on gparted). – PerlDuck Mar 04 '18 at 14:14
What is a "GUI" please? Is this a program? – Nermeen Hussein Mar 04 '18 at 14:15
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graphical user interface – sudodus Mar 04 '18 at 14:15
Thanks a lot for all your help. Is there a place that shows how I can use "GParted" to partition my HDD? Because that was my original question! – Nermeen Hussein Mar 04 '18 at 14:17
Search the internet with the phrase gparted tutorial and you will find several useful places. Select one that suits you and enjoy :-) – sudodus Mar 04 '18 at 15:06

About the disk utility

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