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How do I add Linux to an existing Windows machine?

W

wjsulliv

Senior member
Ok I want to install linux as part of a dual boot on my existing Windows ME machine. Currently I have a single 20 gig partition on 20 gig drive of which I am using 5 gig.

Can I add linux and the linux partitions without having to reformat? I.e. can I just add partitions?

Will I then have to reformat those partitions set aside for linux?
 


<< Ok I want to install linux as part of a dual boot on my existing Windows ME machine. Currently I have a single 20 gig partition on 20 gig drive of which I am using 5 gig.

Can I add linux and the linux partitions without having to reformat? I.e. can I just add partitions?

Will I then have to reformat those partitions set aside for linux? >>



You have a 20 GB partition on a 20 GB drive, so there is no room for more partitions.
You could re-partition the whole drive, but that would mean re-installing Windows.

Or you could get a program like Partition Magic which can resize existing partitions on-the-fly, no re-installation required. Then you can install Linux on the new free space, and use the lilo or grub boot loaders to handle the dual booting, or you can use Boot Magic which comes with Partition Magic to handle that.

Partition Magic is about $70, so for a few bucks more, you could get a nice, new 20 GB drive to install Linux on, and use grub to handle the dual boot stuff. And you just doubled your storage.
 


<< FIPS.exe is the key to your salvation (or a good shot in the head, whichever comes first)! >>



Backup all data before doing this.
 
Uhhhh, admittedly, I'm no linux guru, but every distribution of *nix I've used has a built-in partition manager as part of the install package that allows you to re-partition the drive without corrupting your Windows installation.

Based on that, you shouldn't need ANY new software, ANY new hard disk, or ANY new re-installation.

This is based on working with Mandrake, Red Hat, and SuSE.

Hope this helps...
 


<< Uhhhh, admittedly, I'm no linux guru, but every distribution of *nix I've used has a built-in partition manager as part of the install package that allows you to re-partition the drive without corrupting your Windows installation.

Based on that, you shouldn't need ANY new software, ANY new hard disk, or ANY new re-installation.

This is based on working with Mandrake, Red Hat, and SuSE.

Hope this helps... >>



That is possibly fips, but I personally wouldnt trust it too much. Its amazing how many people hate partitions...
 


<< Uhhhh, admittedly, I'm no linux guru, but every distribution of *nix I've used has a built-in partition manager as part of the install package that allows you to re-partition the drive without corrupting your Windows installation.

Based on that, you shouldn't need ANY new software, ANY new hard disk, or ANY new re-installation.

This is based on working with Mandrake, Red Hat, and SuSE.

Hope this helps... >>



Most/all linux distros have a partitioning utility available during the install process, but it is like fdisk (or it is fdisk). You can partition free space, or delete existing partitions, but not move them around or resize them the way you can with Partition Magic or fips.

Some distros did ship with a version of partition magic. But I don't know of any that currently do.

I haven't personally used fips. How good is it?
 
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