Wannabe Linux User (1 Viewer)

[mikhail]

Hi guys. Looking at the geek humour threads and the deranged Mac users, I'm sure I've come to the right place for some advice.

I have a pc. If you have a problem with that, please go away.

Ah, now that Maxmc is gone, I can continue. I'm thinking about partitioning my hard drive and installing Linux in one side. The thing is, I'm a complete novice with this stuff. I can't just get rid of windows as my family would have a fit. So a few questions:

• My hard drive is 37GB. How much should I leave in each partition?
• Does the partition wipe the drive - will I have to reinstall windows, etc.?
• How hard is it to install Linux? I've heard that it requires a bit of work.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

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[maxmc]

well, if u had a mac inserting the cd would do it... ;-)

but no fear i won't start another mac-pc discussion.. (just had one with my boss)

 

[Martin]

LOL max, I hope your boss won

mikhail, it's a bit of a broad subject but this is how I would do it:

1. use Partition Magic or similar to partition your drives without losing data, no win reinstall necessary, set up your disks like this:
01 windows system
02 - 09 any additional windows drives
10 linux boot - 100MB
11 linux root - 4-5GB
12 linux swap - 2x your physical RAM, no more than 256MB

no need to format them all, the linux ones will get formatted during install

2. choose mandrake if you're a complete newbie, it's the easiest linux I've ever seen, burn the images on cds and just boot from the first cd, everything is menu based from there on. use the documentation on the mandrake site to guide you.

 

[mikhail]

:thumb: Thanks for the advice. I'll look into it.

Just one question arising immediately:
"02 - 09 any additional windows drives"
Why have additional partitions for windows? Surely one big one is enough?

 

[Martin]

Well that's up to you, I have about 6 windows partitions

 

[mikhail]

That's okay. Is there any advantage to it though?

 

[Majed]

++ [ originally posted by Alex ] ++
LOL max, I hope your boss won

mikhail, it's a bit of a broad subject but this is how I would do it:

1. use Partition Magic or similar to partition your drives without losing data, no win reinstall necessary, set up your disks like this:
01 windows system
02 - 09 any additional windows drives
10 linux boot - 100MB
11 linux root - 4-5GB
12 linux swap - 2x your physical RAM, no more than 256MB

no need to format them all, the linux ones will get formatted during install

2. choose mandrake if you're a complete newbie, it's the easiest linux I've ever seen, burn the images on cds and just boot from the first cd, everything is menu based from there on. use the documentation on the mandrake site to guide you.

why 10 for linux boot!
why can't it be 2?

I have about 37.5 Gigs. when i reformatted the sucker, i made one partition for windows (32.5 G) and i left 5 Gigs unpartitioned. is that enough for the linux boot, root and swap?
i guess i can just start with the CD step since i already have unpartitioned space (no name, no format), right?!

Thanks

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by mikhail ] ++
That's okay. Is there any advantage to it though?

I keep my docs on a separate partition, my software, etc. Only the system files on c, I like it that way.

Majed, that was just an example (jeez), course you can use the 2nd instead

 

[Majed]

++ [ originally posted by Alex ] ++


I keep my docs on a separate partition, my software, etc. Only the system files on c, I like it that way.

Majed, that was just an example (jeez), course you can use the 2nd instead

if it was so obvious like that, what's the point for the wierd example!

Thanks

 

[mikhail]

Thanks again Martin.

 

[Martin]

++ [ originally posted by Majed ] ++
if it was so obvious like that, what's the point for the wierd example!

Thanks

It was a real world example, you lamer

 

[Zambrotta]

I have never really understood why people don't like Windows. I got XP three weeks ago and I haven't had any problems at all with it, it kicks ass really.

 

[mikhail]

++ [ originally posted by Zambrotta ] ++
I have never really understood why people don't like Windows. I got XP three weeks ago and I haven't had any problems at all with it, it kicks ass really.

Xp gives me an error message every time I open it. It insists that I email Microsoft. I have done so many times, with no effect.

Thankfully, the problem's cleared up since I formatted my hard drive (unwillingly - was corrupted) last week.

 

[Martin]

Zambro, it's a matter of preference

mikhail, click my signature

 

[mikhail]

++ [ originally posted by Alex ] ++
Zambro, it's a matter of preference

mikhail, click my signature

I've read it. Thanks Martin. I can't get round to installing it yet though.

I have an exam on Monday.