disk partion and install +dual boot.

[chronicwilly]

I have a few questions about disk partitioning, and also on how to properly partion my harddrive for installng windows 7 and fedora dual boot.

First I would like to know what format I would use to format a 305GB harddrive for storage .

I currently have my fedora 17 KDE installed onto my 1TB harddrive, and also have another 305GB harddrive hooked into my computer with nothing on it.I would like to make it so i can view all files on this 305GB harddrive from either operating system, and to be unaffected my future reformats and OS installs.

I noticed on my fail attempt to add a partion theres many diff formats.
Etc2
etc3
ntfs
ETC.....

And no idea what one i need to use to make a storage harddrive.


And also how should i properly format a harddrive to dual boot windows 7 and fedora, what OS should i install first. etc.

Thanks
Will.

[sonoran]

Hi Will, welcome.

Dual booting Linux and Windows requires that you regard Windows as a spoiled, obstinate,
tantrum-prone 2 year old that doesn't play nice with anybody.

Install Windows first, then shrink its C partition to make room for Fedora.

Partitioning for Fedora, assuming you have no special requirements, is largely a matter of taste. It's
fine to put everything on a single partition ("/"). If you plan to do upgrades of new Fedora releases, as
distinct from fresh installs, then having a separate /home partition is useful.

All of Fedora will fit nicely in 25-30 GB with some room to spare, particularly since you're planning a
separate storage drive to share between the two systems. Regarding that drive - you will have to use
a Windows file system for it because that spoiled child refuses to recognize Linux types. I think ntfs
is preferred.

For your Fedora partition(s) ext4 is the way to go.

Once you have Fedora installed and booting it should find your Windows system and allow you to boot
that from the grub2 menu. For the storage drive you can create an fstab entry that will automatically
mount it (details in the fstab manual page - enter "man fstab" in a terminal).

No doubt you will encounter obstacles and glitches along the way, but it's a well-trodden path and
expert help is available (not from me - my only experience with Windows was one week back in '95,
that was enough).

[chronicwilly]

Thankyou very much for the help, I actually managed to research it before u posted this and got it working flawless, im very happy with the fedora OS. Very fast, KDE is my main platform.

And I hate windows with a passion, its in my opinion completly useless other than the fact that most games are supported by windows..Hense the only reason I have dual booted it.