Partitioning the Drive

[The Scribe]

I use Windows XP SP2 at the moment. I want to try Fedora Linus but I want to have Windows as a backup until I learn to use Fedora.

Can anyone suggest the best way to do this? I understand that I have to partition my drive and believe we have Partition Magic but are there things I should know before I start?

Any advice would be great.

[Terminator]

Multiple OS is perfectly ok.

So you have XP runing now, rt? Do in order these things.

Using partition magic (if you have) or any other partition tool create a 5 gb partition and another 512mb partition. These are an acceptable size of partitions, but u can always allocate more space. But there must be two partitions, one huge and other like ur RAM )its for allocating SWAP space). You must not specify the partition type now. You can always specify it when installing Linux. But you can do it from Partition Magic too. If you prefer to do so, allocate EXT3 for the huge partition and Linux Swap for the smaller one.

Restart and make the system bootable from CD. Put your Linux CD 1 to drive and start installing. When asked, where to install point the new partitions, and linux will do an optional FORMAT (reccomended, coz for me many a times PM's partitions caused errors.). Then point out the swap partition when asked. AS usual speicfy ur time, date, montor etc setttings RELAX.

At the end after asking for admin password and all you will be asked to install a boot loader. Specify either grub or LILO. Linux will automatically detect the XP u run now and will add to the boot list.

Done.

You will be now asked by the boot loader u specified which OS to boot. And you have control now. Enjoy!

[Matrix Kid]

I use don't have partation magic you can use the partation program that came with windows. (its the computer magment thing)

[iecep]

Yeah I also use the built in from windows...That's the one that comew with the bootable CD right?

[wildfire]

What version of Linux are you installing? I use debian and they have a really nice disk partitioner on the cd. You can specify types and everything all in one program. I suggest using the Linux CD to partition your drive.

[Terminator]

He use Fedora Linux (RedHat v 9). Its specified in the first topic. Its cool one. Pesonally i use SuSE, but Fedora is cool.

[The Scribe]

Yes, I'll be using Fedora. I have the disks ready. I'm just preparing myself to do it.

OK, first I backup everything and then I go through the steps as set out above. Sounds easy. Is there a lot that could go wrong?

[mck9235]

Originally posted by The Scribe@Oct 19 2004, 11:15 PM
Yes, I'll be using Fedora. I have the disks ready. I'm just preparing myself to do it.

OK, first I backup everything and then I go through the steps as set out above. Sounds easy. Is there a lot that could go wrong?
2036



Ahh not really you should be able to do it just fine :)

[megaman_c]

humm .. i think what you should do .. is install partition magic, and create a new partition, format it as a linux fileSystem, ( you can also create a swap partition if you want )

then you should set this partition to active ... then you restart the PC. and install Fedora ... that's it ...
and if you want to switch to windows again, you should use partition magic bootdisk ...


if you have 2 HDD this will be easier .. but even with one HDD it'S possible

[akshay]

yeah megaman_c is right..
now if u re not going to use partition maggic... (which by all means is the awesomest partitioning program).. u probably use the inbuilt partitioning program which comes with linux.. (but this will be possible oonly if u have another partition on ur drive apart frm the main windows partition) cause the linux utility will delete all the info on the partione drive.. so its better u get partition magic instead.. no hassels then..