Can I put a linux partition before my main windows partition?

[eyor]

Also, should I just have one big ext 2 partition, or break it into several smaller ones?

 

[nateholtrop]

The boot loader will let you chose which OS to start up with..

Nate

 

[Soybomb]

May I ask why you need to? Don't try and use lilo to boot, it'll just give you a headache, use bootmagic

 

[eyor]

I am still confused about all this stuff, soybomb. Someone said it should be before the 1024 cylinder... someone else said it should not go beyond 7 gigs or something... anyways, the way I have it now isnt working... and I was also told that I need to install lilo even if I do use bootmagic... true?

 

[Soybomb]

Follow what I tell you 100% and I can all but guartee a bootable linux partition. Take partition magic and clear off X amount of space from windows. Now you need 2 partitions at least, one linux native and one linux swap. Reboot, boot the linux install disk, I usually choose expert mode. Now when you get to the point where it asks you to dump lilo, tell it to install it on the linux partition, not the MBR. After the install completes reboot and windows should begin to load. After you're in windows go into boot magic configuration and it should see a linux partition, add it to the boot menu. Reboot and you should see the bootmagic boot loader. Choose OS Let me know if it doesn't work!

edit: this means you are actually installing Lilo, it just won't be the main boot loader, and since it won't it shouldnt matter if its past cylinder 1024, etc.

 

[Soybomb]

How's it going?

 

[T4NNER]

Soybomb, I've never tried it like that... interesting

 

[Soybomb]

hmmmm.....how do you usually do it out of curiosity? On my server I make seperate partitions for /home /var, etc but on a desktop machine I wouldnt worry as much about that....

 

[Soybomb]

So how's that linux install eyor?

 

[eyor]

I just got mandrake 7.2 up and running! SWEETNESS! I put LILO on /dev/hda5(the Ext2 partition), and I had bootmagic configured, so now when I boot up it goes to bootmagic, if I choose windows it goes to windows, and if I choose linux it goes to LILO, which makes sure I didn't change my mind

I am posting from my old computer now, I need to figure out them damn tulip drivers for my linksys ethernet card! hmm...


ps: thanks for the help soybomb!