Installing Mandrake 8.1/Format?

[freezinbutt]

Well, after much trial and tribulation, I have fianlly managed to download Mandrake 8.1 and create the proper install CD. When I install, will it properly partition my HDD? Should I do the partition myself and if so, how big of a partition should I make? If I decide that I don't like Linux, can I remove it and the partition without screwing up (or having to reload) windows?

Sorry for all the questions but I have never used Linux. I'm hoping it all works out well because I would love to get away from Windows if I could.

Thanks in advance,
freezinbutt

[Computer Hobbyist]

Are you doing a clean install on a new hard drive? If so Mandrake 8.1 will install it all for you--but will install your system in one 3 gig partition mounted a / and a second partition mounted at /home occupying the balance of your drive. Most people think you should break up the drive a little more than that.

If you are doing something other than a standard install you need to be careful. You can punch the wrong button and lose everything on the drive. It's very unforgiving. Back up everything before you start, just in case. Let us know what kind of install your doing.

CH

[freezinbutt]

Thanks for the reply.

I want to install it on my existing hard drive (only have one in this computer) that already has Windows 2000 Pro. I want to keep 2000 and be able to boot into whatever system I choose. File system is FAT32. Only one partition on this drive.

Hope this helps and thanks for the info so far.

freezinbutt

[Computer Hobbyist]

Back up, back up, back up.

You are going to have to squeeze some space out of your existing hard drive. It can be done, but if you screw up you will lose everything on your hard drive.

I think you should go to the Mandrake Expert site and to Linux Newbie and read everything you can on dual booting before you install. Look at the NHF dealing with multiple partitions as well as the rest of the Newbie Help Files on installation. You probably would be well advised to go to your local library and check out a book on Linux as well.

CH

[MaXimum SMOKE]

Installing Linux on a drive, with a pre existing operating system,
usually requires you to supply the BLANK drive space to be made into
the appropriate Linux partitions. The installer will not automatically
shrink your existing partitions, to accomodate the new install. BACK UP all
data that you can't afford to lose!
I have never dealt with the partitions on WIN 2000, or XP.
If your existing OS allows making a BOOT disk, do this.
On a Win 9X series OS you wind up using a utility to "Shrink" your existing
partition, to make room for BLANK area to make linux partitions. The only
'Free' program I am aware of to do this is called FIPS and is meant to
run under DOS (NOT WINDOWS) It is supplied by some LINUX distros, in
a DOS utilities directory. Please read all of the authors related info.
With regard to partioning schemes.... On my personal PC (NOT A SERVER)
I use 2 partitions One is Linux Native and is mounted as / (root)
The other is Linux Swap, and I prefer a rather large swap 300 megs. I hope
you find this useful. If I decide to delete a linux install, I make this
area into a separate Win Fat 32 Partition and it becomes my D drive.
"WARNING DANGER WILL ROBINSON" All the Win operating systems I have used
have NO idea what a Linux partion is, so to make the partition, back into
a Win partition, I have had to make the WIN Fat 32 partition with the Linux
disk, or at least delete all the linux partitions with a Linux install
program disk. Once the win part is made, use win to format the new partition back
into WIN. REMEMBER when you mess with the partition tables, one false move trashes all your pre-existing data! Your Linux cd should be readible under win,
so read the related text documentation.