I recently decided to give Linux another shot for desktop use. The HDMI out for Windows 8 was going in and out, and I could not maintain a constant picture. I did everything from update drivers to swap cords and TVs, but to no avail. I tried the HDMI port on an Ubuntu Live CD, and it worked fine so I decided to install Ubuntu.
To do this I needed to partition my hard drive to allow a copy of Windows 8 and a copy of Ubuntu to run side by side (a dual boot). Not too much trouble, I can allocate half the drive for both of my operating systems because all of my important files are stored on an external hard drive. I downloaded and installed EaseUS partition manager which allowed me to do just that.
I’ve used all kinds of partitioning software from the Linux command line to Symantec’s partition magic, and let me be the first to say this software is extremely easy to use. Compared to command line, it offered one click download and installation and was common sense to use. Simply drag a scroll bar over and you can resize partitions on the fly.
You can do a variety of things with this easy to use GUI, resize, create, delete, merge, and extend partitions, right from your Windows installation. It even allows you to extend NTFS partitions without rebooting your computer. A cool feature that separates this software from the rest is the ability to restore lost partitions. If you accidentally deleted or lost one, you have the chance to restore it, and thus recover your data.
Easeus does not cost a thing to use, and is basically a free partition magic. It comes with all the same features and tools as Symantec’s version, but you don’t have to pay for it. For regular home use, I would rate this piece of software an 8/0. If you need something a little more powerful, they offer professional and business versions which come with additional features.