I need help installing Linux...

[Mean MrMustard]

I downloaded Mandrake 8.1 and burned to CD. The computer I want it on has Win98SE. I would like to reformat and just have Linux on that machine. The machine has a 4 gig hard drive. I heard that you need at least 2 partitions when using Linux. How large should the boot partition be? ...and do just fdisk it?

Do I have to make a DOS boot disk before I install it?
Once installed, is Gnome or KDE installed with it, or is it downloaded separately? Do I installed one of them directly after the Linux installation?

Thanks for the help.

Craig

 

[hobgadling]

All of that is done for you in the Mandrake install...thats why its so user friendly. You basically just have to pop the cd in on boot to start it and let it go.

Gnome and KDE and any other window manager you want can be selected during the install as well.

-Hob

 

[Mean MrMustard]

Thanks a lot!

 

[mcveigh]

let us know how it goes.

As for partitions you'll at least need a /boot / and swap partition

i'd reccomend a /, /boot, /home and swap as the minimum for an install

Good Luck!!

 

[zigCorsair]

you want the swap partition mentioned above to be twice the size of your ram. Make the root partion the max. size left (3.7 gig?). Good luck!

 

[thornc]

... duplicated information, but in order ....
Just boot from the Mandrake CD, select a standard install, create a root (/) partition with around 3.7GB, and use the
rest for the swap install.
With a standard install you should get KDE installed, and everything else you need with it. If you want
to install anything afterwards you just fire up drakerpm and install it!
Set lilo to install on the MBR (master boot record), after everything is copyed you just need to reboot!!

Good luck!

 

[FUBAR]

You only NEED a / and a swap. If it's just a simple stand alone with no other things going on other than maybe some web browsing go for the 2 partition approach. If you were using a drive over 8G with a slightly older distro you may have needed a /boot otherwise tho, just go with the 2 part approach.

 

[Motavian]

I would not bother with a /boot partition for your setup.

The way I would do it is:

First Partition (hda1) - swap partition, 128 MB should be fine, unless you do something unusual that requires a lot of virtual memory
Second Partition (hda2) - root partition, 2 Gigs should be plenty
Third Partition (hda3) - /home partition, the rest of the space on the drive

Having a distinct home partition will be helpful if you ever need to reinstall Linux, of if you install a newer distribution later. It will save you from having to backup your personal files every time you install a new distribution.