Cannot resize boot partition using Gparted even there is unallocated spaces

Question

I have dual booted with Windows, I have allocated Windows for 180GB and For Ubuntu 46GB. Recently I wanted to increase Linux root partition hard drive space and I shrink from windows and unallocated space created.

Now I cannot shrink it to boot partition of Linux, Whenever I tried to click resize/move on /dev/nvme0n1p4 it simply says there is no unallocated space to add.

I tried Gparted live boot also, I get the same response. Now I want to merge all the unallocated to space to my Linux root partition(/dev/nvme0n1p4) how to do it?

And Why am I having 3 separate unallocated space? Can I not merge them to single?

root@tom-linux:/home/tom# resize2fs /dev/nvme0n1p4
resize2fs 1.43.4 (31-Jan-2017)
The filesystem is already 12207104 (4k) blocks long.  Nothing to do!

First, the reason it's not letting you extend your Linux partition is because there is no unallocated space immediately after your Linux partition. (You can only extend a partition if there is free space right after it, unless you're using LVM). Second, no, you cannot merge all the unallocated space together unless you're using LVM. — You'reAGitForNotUsingGit, May 07 '17 at 21:24
@Alban - Moving partitions is bad idea to begin with, and it's an extremely bad idea on an SSD, as moving partitions will use up tons of write cycles. Not to mention it may also cause the drive to overheat, given that the OP is using a tiny NVME drive. Finally, (and this is true even with a HDD), moving partitions is a very risky operation that may result in data loss. TL;DR: do not move partitions, especially on an SSD! — You'reAGitForNotUsingGit, May 07 '17 at 21:26
@Thamaraiselvam You can't simply just run a command to "install" LVM. If you want to use LVM, you will need to format the entire drive and reinstall everything from scratch. Not to mention, Windows doesn't even support being installed on LVM. So no, you probably don't want to use LVM... — You'reAGitForNotUsingGit, May 07 '17 at 21:31
resize2fs shows some error is that normal ? please check my bottom of my question — Thamaraiselvam, May 07 '17 at 21:31
Thanks, @AndroidDev got you. So now can I not change resize the root partition now? — Thamaraiselvam, May 07 '17 at 21:32
@Thamaraiselvam You could delete your swap partition, and extend the root volume into the unallocated space, leaving just enough unallocated to recreate the swap partition at the end. — You'reAGitForNotUsingGit, May 07 '17 at 21:36
Awesome. @AndroidDev thanks, dude. It worked. When I delete swap then unallocated space created after my root partition. — Thamaraiselvam, May 07 '17 at 21:41
@AndroidDev: May I ask why moving partitions is a bad idea to begin with? Also, write cycles in that order of magnitude shouldn't be an issue with modern flash cells and controllers. You should be able to overwrite the whole drive a few million times at least before the reserve cells are used up. — David Foerster, May 07 '17 at 21:41
@AndroidDev Please write answer, I will mark it . You saved my time and clearly explained — Thamaraiselvam, May 08 '17 at 05:51
@Thamaraiselvam - I will, I just haven't gotten around to it yet :D — You'reAGitForNotUsingGit, May 09 '17 at 01:11

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered May 08 '17 at 23:15

It appears that your goal is to provide more space on your / mounted partition. AndroidDev has done a fine job explaining why a number of options aren't a good fit for you in the numerous comments.

I can offer you a viable alternative solution however:

Any large directory in your / mounted partition can be copied to a new partition created in your unallocated space.

You can find an appropriate candidate by using Disk Usage Analyzer AKA Baobab. Compare the space used by the files there with the size of your unallocated space. If the unallocated space is larger, You can simply create a new partition in the unallocated space, move the content of the large directory there, freeing up space on your / parition and then mount the newly created partition at the source directory.

If anything about this answer is unclear or you need assistance in it's application, feel free to drop me a comment and I'll do my best to clarify/assist.

Thanks, @Elder Geek, I have already fixed it with Android Dev's help. Just created unallocated space near that drive then it worked. Also Live booted GParted so I could unmount primary partition and resized it — Thamaraiselvam, May 09 '17 at 08:02

Cannot resize boot partition using Gparted even there is unallocated spaces

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