Help on Linux partition - Mandrake 7.2

[Mule]

Ok, this is my first time installing linux. I have a 30.7 GB HD and I partitioned off 2 GB for Linux. Is that enough?

Anyways, my question is that when I go through the intallation process, it asks me where to install Linux and I give it that partition and try to mount it but it won't let me. Also do I need to partition in a special format for it to work?

Then I tried installing under Windows, but then the installation just hangs up, don't know whats going on, somebody PLEASE HELP ME!!

 

[Damaged]

All you've done is reserve space for Linux. You have not formatted it as an ext2 parition. So, yes you have to do that. You'll also need a swap partition as well.

 

[Mule]

hmm...

So I got 2 working partions
C - for Win ME
D - for Win 2k

so what you're saying is that I need two other partitions?
One I have to partion as ext2(can that be done with Partition Magic?) and another as a swap partition?(can that also be done with Partition Magic?)

This linux stuff is a pain.

EDIT: also how big do I need the partitions to be? I have a 30.7 GB HD so space isn't really a problem.

 

[Mule]

And still another question.

The ext2 partition will probably be used for the OS, but what is the swap partition be used for??

 

[jtshaw]

Swap is linux's virtual memory. Instead of putting it in a file on the main partition like windows does it gives it it's own partition. Also, linux usually uses many partitions, the most common config being a seperate partition for /boot, /home, and /. When you are running linux you can't even tell they are different partitions because of the way the OS works. You might not be able to do a full install of Mandrake 7.2 with all the junk that comes with in in 2 gigs btw...it comes with a huge amount of application.

 

[Mule]

when I made a ext2 partition with Partition Magic, how come it doesn't specify a drive letter for it? I can't get windows to read that drive letter. Is this normal? Or did I do something wrong?

 

[eP?]

Windows won't be able to see the partitions you make for Linux. Mandrake, however, will be able to see your Windows partitions. The reason no drive letter was assigned to your ext2 partition is because Linux doesn't use drive letters. It uses mount points such as /, /home, and /usr. Give your Linux OS at least 5 gigs of that hard drive just to avoid future space problems. If you spend any time learning Linux and don't give up right away, you might find you'd rather just use Linux as your main OS and Windows just for gaming. Then you'll be thankful you gave yourself more room in the beginning.

You might want the following partitions setup, but you can make them any size you want:

/boot 15 Megs
/home 2 Gigs
/ 2 Gigs
Swap =2 times the amout of RAM you have

Once again these are only suggestions and you might and probably can find a better sizes for your partitions. It's a personal thing.

Good luck and don't give up.

 

[thornc]

My ten cents...

Attention, the linux boot partition (either /boot or /) must be on the first 1024 cyl of
the harddisk...if you already have two windows partitions its very unlikely that the linux
boot partition will fall into this cylinders....

Two options, always use a boot floppy disk, or move your windows partitions so that you have
space to create you boot partition on the first 1024 cyl of the disk....

You can do this with partition magic....in the information screen of a partition you can see
the physical position of that partition...

 

[jtshaw]

BTW...Linux doesn't do drive letters, it does mount points. You mount a drive to /, you mount a drive to /boot, ect. Drive letters mean there is only a set number of partitions you can have. Mount points can be anything so that limitation is gone. Also, Windows, in typically MS fashion, can't read partitions from any other operating system. Luckly linux can read/write to both FAT32 and NTFS (now..) so you can still share files between the two.

Oh, and see The Unofficial LILO page for information on the 1024 cylinder restriction (it was actually 1023 but who cares) and how it no longer applies.