Partitioning software

[charlemagneb]

Sorry for a "newbie" question, but hopefully the only dumb question is the one unasked.

In installing Xenix, SCO-Unix, and RHEL I have always installed on dedicated servers and the routines included with the install package were just fine to partition, but I am now installing on shared systems, so the question is whether there is any benefit from using third party software such as Partition Magic, etc rather than that included in the RC8 installation image?

I have two boxes I am installing on, a Thinkpad R51 with XP pro and an AMD64 box with W2K pro.

Thanks for any help.

[SlowJet]

The tools are there but in a graphical screen layout under custom partitioning.
But, you need to have free space on the disk and most Win installations use the whole disk or have a recovery partition or hidden restore partition.
So first take care of Windows with windows tools.
Next, plan the partitions according to what you are going to do with Linux.
If it breaks down will you simply reinstall, do you need a separate home to save current data, do you need a backup area?
Think about sizes for what will be installed.
Then proceed with installer an select the correct partition method, default is a re-install only option unless you learn advanced LVM and recovery options.
So custom partitioning is the only choice to create your own.

Partitioning and Dual booting has not changed much in the last decade.

SJ

[charlemagneb]

Originally Posted by SlowJet

The tools are there but in a graphical screen layout under custom partitioning.
But, you need to have free space on the disk and most Win installations use the whole disk or have a recovery partition or hidden restore partition.
So first take care of Windows with windows tools.
Next, plan the partitions according to what you are going to do with Linux.
If it breaks down will you simply reinstall, do you need a separate home to save current data, do you need a backup area?
Think about sizes for what will be installed.
Then proceed with installer an select the correct partition method, default is a re-install only option unless you learn advanced LVM and recovery options.
So custom partitioning is the only choice to create your own.

Partitioning and Dual booting has not changed much in the last decade.

SJ

Thanks, Slowjet, for your reasoned response. I'm having to relearn a language I haven't used in three years, so it's like pulling teeth.

[setamym]

There is GParted. Partition application just like Partition Magic.