Partitioning The HDD For Multiple OS How would I go about doing it?

Hey all, I am about to reformat my drive on my Toshiba laptop (with the system restore disc it came with) and was wondering about how to partition it so I could run a distro of Linux and XP on it. I'm pretty computer saavy so fire away.Also, any other recommendations instead of Linux? I want to try a new OS but preferably not have to pay anything. Thanks.

If that restore CD is just used to do a restore once you insert it, then you might have to use a bootdisk to do the formatting. If it's a restore CD with options that allow you to partition your drive, then you may partition using your restore CD.

If it doesn't have the partition function, then try getting the XP bootdisks and see if you can fdisk and partition there. I haven't tried this before since I usually use my original Windows XP CD to partition. So if that doesn't work, then get a Windows 98 bootdisk and use fdisk there. It probably won't work, so try getting this fdisk version to see if it will see that NTFS (if that's what you have) partition so you can delete it and create new partitions.

Linux has so many "flavors" (versions) that you can choose from, so I say go with that. If you are new to Linux, I suggest using Mandrake. If you like the command line more, then go with Red Hat. There are other distros which you may like, so explore and try them out. Most of them are free. To install Linux, make sure you installed Windows first on the main partition and then install Linux so that you can get the Linux Boot Loader to install properly. Otherwise, you will have to get it back manually from the CD again.

I just reformatted my hard drive a few days ago and this is how I done it. When you get to the XP screen that shows your hard drive partitions and asks which one to install to, customise the partitions before you continue. Since this is a reinstall you will most likely already have a windows partiton. Hit "D" to delete the partiton. You should show an entire hard drive with nothing partitioned. Then hit "C" for create partition. A new screen appears asking how big the new partition should be. By default it is the full size of the hard drive. In my case I do not use Linux that often and I did not need a very large partiton. Out of my 160Gb HDD I created a partition of 100GB for my Windows XP portion, i.e. I just put 100000 in the blank. Agree to this. The partiton screen reappears and simply hit enter on your new partition (the 100GB one in my case). Continue with formatting in NTFS (shame on you if you even consider FAT) and continue the Windows XP install as normal.After Windows XP is installed, start the Linux install. Depending on disrto you will eventually be presented with a screen asking where you want Linux to be installed. Use the unallocated partition (the 60 odd GB in my case) as the Linux partition. Follow directions for your distro for any additional partition such as swap. Just break up the unallocated space even further.

There are plenty of other threads in the linux section about which distro to choose for different ppurposes, so i wont get into that.With Linux, you need 2 or more partitons depending on variouse things.a popular yet basic partiton scheeme is to create only 2 partitons for linux, a root partiton (the main partiton) and a swap partiton (for virtual memory) 3 partitons in total, 1 for windows, 1 for linux main, and a small one for swap space.a better partiton scheeme would be 3 partitons for linux./ (root)/home (home partiton)swap (virtual memory)the addition of a home partiton adds 2 advantages.1) you can format linux, and install a different distro without having to backup your files or settings.2) having your home partiton mounted as a seperate partiton means you can mount it with different settings to your root partiton. a good setting would be "noexec"mounting home as "noexec" means linux wil not allow you to run scripts or programs from your home partiton. all programs would need to be officially installed by root first.This reduxces the risk of getting a virus in desktop linux from practically zero, to almost definatly zero.some people will also put /boot /tmp and /usr on different partitons, but that benefits servers more than desktop's so i wont do into that.enjoy.

Haha, just a tad over my head.

 

First, what is Fdisk?

Second, Where would I get a XP bootdisc? (I have home)- I'm pretty sure last time I used the disc there were no options to partition. I think it was Norton Ghost related. (there was a ghost picture and, if I'm remembering correctly, said Symantec or Norton somewhere) The drive wipe itself took about 20min for my 60gb HD. It restored the laptop back to its original state with all the junk freebies that Toshiba put on it.

 

Third, I already have a boot-from-disc version of Linux - (Gnoppix). Is that good enough or should I try Mandrake? I'm very unfamiliar with Linux.

 

Fourth, I think my drive is FAT32, but I'm not sure. I remember wanting it to be NTFS but that's pretty much it. How would I check and what's the differences between them both?

 

Thanks for the info guys. I'll let you know how it goes when I get around to backing up my files.

 

 

 

PS: Is there some sort of info I can post that would fill you guys in a little better? I know in some spyware forums people post their HijackThis "logs" but I don't know if that would help.

The differences between NTFS and FAT32, is that FAT32 would require more space per file, while NTFS files are smaller. Linux CAN ONLY read NTFS and not write, while it has full functions w/ FAT32.Fdisc (Fdisk in American English) is a program that sets your partitions. It doesn't do formatting though.For Linux, if you want to try it out fully, download Knoppix (the real thing, Gnoppix is just a clone w/ GNOME instead of KDE) and you can actually install Knoppix w/ it's installer (after it boots the desktop)xboxrulz

Oh ok, thanks a lot.Now to use Fdisc, do I just download and run?Or is there something special to it?Thanks.

the command is fdisk (but it's really supposed to be called fdisc, but the programmers are Americans, so o well), anyways, it comes w/ Windows.Just launch cmd then type fdisk. SuSE Linux, Fedora Core, Ubuntu Linux will help you partition when you insert the installation disc.xboxrulz

Ah ok, thanks.When I run Fdisk, does it erase anything on my HD? And does it do it immediately?Or can I run it and look at the commands without actually partitioning?

fdisk only writes your partitions, if you use SuSE, Fedora or Ubuntu, it can also do the partitioning and formatting for you.xboxrulz

with the system restore disc it came with

last time I used the restore disc coming with my HP laptop, it removed all the partitions I created. And hte restore disc of my compaq claims it will do the same thing.If your restor disc works the same way as mine, it's useless creating your partitions with fdisk, the partitions will disappear after the restoring.
So, what I suggest you is also the simplest way. Use your restore disk to restore your operating system.
Then, shrink your disk (whic will be named c:) in order to let it a small part of your drive instead of your whole drive.
The simplest way to shrink your c: partiton is using Partition Magic.
I would suggest make the c: partition as small as possible, let's say 4 to 15 Giga, et let the remaining space for data and for Unix.
Then, most of Linux install disks (Mandrake for instance) install themselves after Microsoft Windows and manage the dual boot thing, so you have nothing to do by yourself.
I would also suggest, before installing Linux, to use Windows disk manager in order to create a small partition with a fat32 filesystem. Then, Mandrake will mount this partition on a Unix filesystem, and you will be that way be able to share files between windows and Linux : the files windows writes on the D: disk, Linux will be able to read/write them on the /mnt/windows2 filesystem.
By the way, qwijibow said it right, there are several tutuorials and several posts on Xisto explaining how to do that, I expressed my own opinion here and you will see that other people think differentely. That's the funny thing in Open World : two different people have two different opinions, and probably both are right!
Good luck with your formatting
Yordan

fdisk only writes your partitions, if you use SuSE, Fedora or Ubuntu, it can also do the partitioning and formatting for you.

 

xboxrulz

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Ah ok, thanks.

Is it possible to use my boot disc of Gnoppix for the partition?

Only time I've ever used it was to boot from the CD drive to fool around but I could never save anything.

Reading you dont have much knowledge about this, Id highly recommend that you use partition magic, you'll be able to configure everything from there, apply the changes and restart.. the process wil now begin and you'll files will be safe.Also restoring the disk to its previous state its really easy, and theres no way you can screw up and damage your hdd.

Slasher, that's a Windows solution not a Linux solution, anyways, the Linux partition is easier.Anyways, since Gnoppix is a branch off Knoppix, it should have the proper partitioning system. From what I use the most, just type sudo qtparted, then you can start partitioning. I recommend the YaST partitioning system over QTParted, but if that's what you want, then go for it.xboxrulz

Slasher, that's a Windows solution not a Linux solution, anyways, the Linux partition is easier.

 

Anyways, since Gnoppix is a branch off Knoppix, it should have the proper partitioning system. From what I use the most, just type sudo qtparted, then you can start partitioning. I recommend the YaST partitioning system over QTParted, but if that's what you want, then go for it.

 

xboxrulz

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Haha....I feel like such a newbie.

 

Starting from my notebook running XP home right now, how would I partition about 5gigs to run a flavor of Linux?

 

Do I use Partition Magic like Slasher said or do I boot from the Gnoppix CD and go from there?