Thread: HOWTO: Manually partition an SSD drive with a Guid Partition Table (GPT)

this simple guide installing new ssd drive using guid partition table. thought share result after doing first time today. useful information on subject obtained arch linux wiki.

choose not put swap partition on new ssd drive. can either go without (as machine has plenty of ram), or can manually put swap partition on traditional rotary disk (if want system able hibernate).

keep things simple, unplug additional drives leaving ssd attached , boot either usb stick or live cd. don't want accidentally wipe other drives. ssd should /dev/sda.

first install gdisk fdisk managing gpt disk layouts.

sudo apt-get install gdisk

run gdisk , specify drive manage.

sudo gdisk /dev/sda

following transcript of operation create 3 partitions (with elements need type in bold). first partition special "bios boot partition", required grub install in, (note special code ef02). second small boot partition kernel. third root partition use remaining space.

command (? help): o <enter>
option deletes partitions , creates new protective mbr.
proceed? (y/n): y <enter>

command (? help): n <enter>
partition number (1-128, default 1): <enter>
first sector (34-30093806, default = 34) or {+-}size{kmgtp}: <enter>
information: moved requested sector 34 2048 in
order align on 2048-sector boundaries.
use 'l' on experts' menu adjust alignment
last sector (2048-30093806, default = 30093806) or {+-}size{kmgtp}: +1m <enter>
current type 'linux/windows data'
hex code or guid (l show codes, enter = 0700): ef02 <enter>
changed type of partition 'bios boot partition'

command (? help): n <enter>
partition number (2-128, default 2): <enter>
first sector (34-30093806, default = 4096) or {+-}size{kmgtp}: <enter>
last sector (4096-30093806, default = 30093806) or {+-}size{kmgtp}: +500m <enter>
current type 'linux/windows data'
hex code or guid (l show codes, enter = 0700): <enter>
changed type of partition 'linux/windows data'

command (? help): n <enter>
partition number (3-128, default 3): <enter>
first sector (34-30093806, default = 1028096) or {+-}size{kmgtp}: <enter>
last sector (1028096-30093806, default = 30093806) or {+-}size{kmgtp}: <enter>
current type 'linux/windows data'
hex code or guid (l show codes, enter = 0700): <enter>
changed type of partition 'linux/windows data'

command (? help): w <enter>

final checks complete. write gpt data. overwrite existing partitions!!

want proceed, possibly destroying data? (y/n): y <enter>

when installing ubuntu select custom partitioning , map following:

sda2 used /boot
sda3 used /

grub boot loader can installed /dev/sda.

notice how sda1 not mapped here. however, used grub. without special "bios boot partition", grub installation fail.

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