Fedora 17 dual boot

[pixellcraft]

Hello, I need help with installing Fedora with dual-boot. I have got 2 HDD
1:
C:\ D:\ E:\
2:
F:\
I want Fedora on D:\ (sda2) The problem is that I don't know how to install it with "custom layout" (it's complicated a bit) so I wanna use the "Free space". But I already have got D:\ made with Windows (NTSF) and I need to delete it (to make free space). If I would use Ubuntu (on USB) to remove D:\ would it work? I mean after deleting D:\there would be only:
1:
C:\ E:\
2:
F:\
right? If yes it's awesome, if not, is it possible and how? Thank you!

[Colors]

It would be better if you reserve for linux at least 4 (four) partitions. /boot, /(root), /home and linux-swap. If you want dual booting you need a boot manager to take care of booting which OS you have chosen. The simplest way is to let the first partition /dev/sda1 to be the boot partition /boot for your linux system. So you can have:

/dev/sda1 to be /boot,
/dev/sda2 to be windows installation,
/dev/sda3 to be /(root),
/dev/sda5 to be other windows (ntfs) partition (seen as D:\),
/dev/sda6 to be /home,
/dev/sda7 to be swap for your linux OS.

The /boot partition must have no more than 500 MB and the swap 500-1000 MB if you have a dual-core or newer system and the pc is not used for some special purpose.

So that being said you need to do some partitioning and make room for the /boot partition. Backup your data first, boot from live media and use gparted as partitioning program.

[pixellcraft]

Originally Posted by Colors

/dev/sda1 to be /boot,
/dev/sda2 to be windows installation,
/dev/sda3 to be /(root),
/dev/sda5 to be other windows (ntfs) partition (seen as D:\),
/dev/sda6 to be /home,
/dev/sda7 to be swap for your linux OS.

Damn! Well I will re-install Windows then (again)

I already said I've got 2 HDD (500 + 300 GB) I will make it then
C:\ Windows 80 GB (sda1)
D:\ ("remaining" space) (sda2)
And free space for Fedora (how much does it need if I want to use free space?)
F:\ 300 GB (sdb1)
Thank you!

[sonoran]

Originally Posted by Colors

It would be better if you reserve for linux at least 4 (four) partitions.

How better?

I've run Fedora on a single / partition since F15 with no problems attributable to that. I do have a /swap somewhere, but it hasn't been used in years and will disappear with my next new hd.

No LVM, no upgrades here (fresh installs only - life is too short).

[nonamedotc]

Originally Posted by pixellcraft

Damn! Well I will re-install Windows then (again)

I already said I've got 2 HDD (500 + 300 GB) I will make it then
C:\ Windows 80 GB (sda1)
D:\ ("remaining" space) (sda2)
And free space for Fedora (how much does it need if I want to use free space?)
F:\ 300 GB (sdb1)
Thank you!

No. You do not have to if you do not want to! Fedora runs perfectly well with a single / partition.

If you plan on upgrading from one release to another it makes it convenient to have a separate /home partition. If you want to encrypt your HDD, then you would need a separate /boot partition.

As for your case of installing to D:, just wipe D: using anaconda (create custom layout --> format sda2 as ext4 - check this, use swap based on your needs) and install Fedora. Fedora should recognize windows and add it to grub automatically.

Hope this helps.

---------- Post added at 09:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:12 AM ----------

Oh and as for the space requirements, I have used a Fedora installation on Virtual box in 8 GB. The space needed will depend on how much additional stuff you want to install. For example, MATLAB takes at least (in my case) 2 GB. texlive - another 2 GB.

The default graphical desktop install itself takes about 3 - 4 GB I believe (this is an approximate number - I have not specifically looked).