Yet another newbie problem

[volpone]

Hi here's another newbie installation problem.

Trying to install Fedore Core 4, as dual boot system, all seems well untill I get to the disk partition, as I've been advised to use "disk druid" in manual partition, I arrive at the partition page, after trying to create new partition as root or as swap I hit a brick wall and nothing seems to be right.

I then booted into that other OS's, CD and looked at the partitions, heres what it looks like:

Disk0 ID0 114471MB

C: 14470 partition 1 NTFS free space 11,9GB
F: 50000 partition 2 NTFS free space 34,1GB
G: 50000 partition 3 NTFS free space 20,1GB


Disk0 ID1 59646MB

D: 58636 partition 1 NTFS free space 55,5GB
unpartitoned 8MB


EXT 238473MB

E: 238473 partition 1 FAT32 free space 50,5GB


Must I re-format partitons on ID0?? (which would delete all data including XP)
or am I missing something??? The only unpartitioned space is on ID1 and its only 8MB but theres plenty free space on the C: where windoze is.
Where is the best place to install Fedora??


I tryed the disk partiton also in automatic but with no luck

Please help any advice much appreciated.

V

[tresslyn]

I will see if I can help.

1. Backup your system. Save all of your data.
2. Defrag your disk.
3. Note how much free space you have or want to use
4. Here are several disk partition tools to try out.
a. Partition Magic
i. www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic
b. Acronis OS Selector
i. www.acronis.com/homecomputing/sales/online
c. QTParted it comes with KNOPPIX and is free

These tools should help you to free up some hard drive space allowing you to install your new O/S. When you do allow some free space make sure you allocate some of the hard drive for FAT 16 so you can swap data between Linux and Windows. Because every O/S supports FAT 16.

After your installation is complete use GRUB to switch to either Linux or Windows.

[tomcat]

No, don't use Fat16, but Fat32. Fat16 is wasted space.

[tresslyn]

OK this may be true. I do not dual boot to windows. However I was trying to recover some money I spent on the Red Hat FC4 Bible.

It states, "that most likely windows will be NTFS, although it may also be VFAT. If you have the option to install Windows from scratch, select VFAT because the file system works better with Linux. Also ( Using Windows partitions from Linux ) With some space available on your disk, when you go to install Linux, consider adding a small FAT16 partition (maybe 2 gb) on your disk. Every x86 operating system (Linux, Windows 95, NT, 2000, XP and DOS) supports it. With that added, you wont have to worry about HAVING ntfs SUPPORT IN lINUX (WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO ADD AND REBUILD WITH EVERY KERNEL UPGRADE). You will be able to freely exchange files between your Linux and Windows system on the FAT16 partition." end of quote.

Personally I would scratch my whole windows system and fdisk to create a dual boot environment. Or use one hard drive for windows and the other hard drive for Linux. Using CMOS to determine which drive will boot.

[tomcat]

It is not wrong what is said there. Fat16 was the default partitioning in the DOS and Win95 days. With Win98 they changed to Fat32 and later, with Win2000 and XP they defaulted to NTFS. So, it is only a bit outdated but still correct. ;) Partitions for sharing are thus usually set up as Fat32, as it allows more file-storage on the same partition and it is faster, too.

[tresslyn]

I agree with what your saying. What I dont understand is the originator of this thread responding?

[markkuk]

I then booted into that other OS's, CD and looked at the partitions, heres what it looks like:

Disk0 ID0 114471MB

C: 14470 partition 1 NTFS free space 11,9GB
F: 50000 partition 2 NTFS free space 34,1GB
G: 50000 partition 3 NTFS free space 20,1GB


Disk0 ID1 59646MB

D: 58636 partition 1 NTFS free space 55,5GB
unpartitoned 8MB


EXT 238473MB

E: 238473 partition 1 FAT32 free space 50,5GB


Must I re-format partitons on ID0?? (which would delete all data including XP)
or am I missing something??? The only unpartitioned space is on ID1 and its only 8MB but theres plenty free space on the C: where windoze is.
The "free" space on your Windows partitions is reserved for the use of Windows, and can't be used for Linux installation. Fedora requires free, unparititioned space where it can create its own partitions. You have only 8MB such space available, but you need at least about 1000 times that for an usable desktop system.
You must use a partition resizing program like NTFSresize or Partition Magic to shrink one or more of your Windows partitions to create some free space.

[volpone]

First off thanks very much guys for taking the time to go over what must be the basics. :)

More nebie questions

tresslync. - QTParted it comes with KNOPPIX and is free
last night i went to a local linux cafe where they gave us a copy of ubuntu apparently same as knoppix im abit unsure of this as its all brand new to me! what do you advice?


my 1st HD which is partitioned 3 times.
windozes in 1st partition (which is 14GB)
can i resize the 1st partition to say 7 gb without losing the data in the 1st half (windows)
and when i format the new partition it should be Fat 32

Does FC4 need to go in a partition on the 1st HD?

Would it be better to load FC4 into partiton F which is 2nd partition on 1st HD leaving the original xp partition well alone.

Thanks again

V

[markkuk]

my 1st HD which is partitioned 3 times.
windozes in 1st partition (which is 14GB)
can i resize the 1st partition to say 7 gb without losing the data in the 1st half (windows)
Yes.
and when i format the new partition it should be Fat 32
No, you shouldn't format the space created by partition resizing at all. You need unpartitioned and unformatted free space. NTFS or FAT32 partitions can't be used to install Fedora.

Does FC4 need to go in a partition on the 1st HD?
No.

[tomcat]

tresslync. - QTParted it comes with KNOPPIX and is free
last night i went to a local linux cafe where they gave us a copy of ubuntu apparently same as knoppix im abit unsure of this as its all brand new to me! what do you advice?
Ubuntu is another Linux-operating system. Its partitioning tool is not as good as QT-Parted. Thus I recommend to get a Knoppix CD (They are also very useful for troublehooting and restoring broken systems, in case you manage to break them). Ubuntu is a Debian based system, while Fedora is based on Fedora. ;)

my 1st HD which is partitioned 3 times.
windozes in 1st partition (which is 14GB)
can i resize the 1st partition to say 7 gb without losing the data in the 1st half (windows)
and when i format the new partition it should be Fat 32 Yes, you can, but you NEED to defrag your partition first as Windows spills its data all over the harddisk on the long run. After defragmentating the disk, you can shrink the size to e.g. 7GB without major problems (If your data on the drive ain't bigger than 7GB of course). When you create a new partition for Fedora, format it in etx3 format. I recommend to create 100-200MB /boot, ~5GB /(root filesystem), 2xRAM size for Swap and the rest as /home.

Does FC4 need to go in a partition on the 1st HD?
No, you can install a Linux operating system on ANY partition, even e.g. at the end of your fourth harddisk.
Would it be better to load FC4 into partiton F which is 2nd partition on 1st HD leaving the original xp partition well alone.

Thanks again

VIf you have several harddisks, it is always a good idea to keep Windows on e.g. hda and installing Fedora on hdb. That way you don't need to resize the Windows partition on hda.

(PS: in Linux, harddisks are "numbered" as hda, hdb, hdc, hdd, hde,... followed by partition numbers. E.g. hda1 = 1st primary partition on hda, hdb8= 8th logical partition on hdb)

[volpone]

Thanks again guys

Ill dl Knoppix and use the QTParted.

Still not sure where to install I suppose thats a personal choice Id like to split hda1 but I might chicken out and go for hda2.

I'll let you know how i get on 2morro

thanks for some of that jargon busting its the most confusing thing about the 2 diffrent systems

the learning curve is in full flow

V

[tomcat]

Just keep on asking questions whenever you need an answer. We are here for answering questions and remember: There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers. ;)