[ndissenter]

heres the deal: (dont laugh, my first time with linux)
im installing my linux,and i get the to the partitioning crap which everybody seems to hate....anyways it asks me 3 options remove previous linux partitions........remove all partitions (including windows)...........and leavepartitions and use remaining memory......i try the option on removing previous partions and i get an error, i then try the 3rd option, leaving partitions and use reamining memory, and get an error.....i didnt try the second option, removing all partitions, cuz that would mess my windows.....now word has it that windows xp uses the WHOLE harddrive partitioned to windows, hence there is no room for linux partitions....word also has it that u can get a disk to make room for both partitions.....word also has it (or maybe a rumor) u can download this program free......if so wheres can i do that.....if not, what disc should i be looking for to buy?......thats about all i can think of now.....i need answers...
....plz use details if u can, im new to linux and therefore suck at it, and all its related terms.....so yea...ty

[lynch]

I think you mean "remaining disk space" not memory.
A hard drive is a hard drive. You decide the number and size of the partition(s).
I dont know where you got that info about XP using the entire drive, but that's wrong. I know because when I install XP for a build, the XP installer lets you choose how big the partition is going to be. If XP is already using the entire drive then you will get errors if you use the 3rd option because there is no remaining space.
If you want to keep XP and install Linux, you need to either format and reinstall XP and leave enough free space to install Linux or get PartitionMagic to resize the XP partition to make some space for Linux..
The only programs I know of that non-destructively resizes partitions are PartitionMagic (not free) and the partitioning tool that comes with Mandrake Linux. Maybe get Mandrake?
HTH
lynch

[jringer77]

I've also had trouble installing Red Hat 7 (from the Linux for Dummies book ), and Mandrake 9.2. These errors all come from the partitioning part of the install. I let the machine sit ("partitioning") for over 8hrs to see if I was too impatient.
The drive does have a WinXP Pro partition on it, and it seems no Linux installer can partition this drive. I don't need any info on the drive and want it to simply be a Linux-only desktop machine. Any hints outside of Partition Majic? Would re-installing WinXP w/ a minimal partition do the job to get Linux over the top of it?

Thanks for any help,
<frustrated>Ringer

[Fuzzy Gnome]

I'd try downloading a low level format utility from the hard drive manufacturer.

[lynch]

Originally posted by jringer77:
I've also had trouble installing Red Hat 7 (from the Linux for Dummies book ), and Mandrake 9.2. These errors all come from the partitioning part of the install. I let the machine sit ("partitioning") for over 8hrs to see if I was too impatient.
The drive does have a WinXP Pro partition on it, and it seems no Linux installer can partition this drive. I don't need any info on the drive and want it to simply be a Linux-only desktop machine. Any hints outside of Partition Majic? Would re-installing WinXP w/ a minimal partition do the job to get Linux over the top of it?

Thanks for any help,
<frustrated>Ringer

Did you use the "Erase Entire Disk" option? What steps, exactly, are you using when you get to the partitioning stage of installation? You should see a screen like this.
Here's a link to the MDK Discovery Guide .
HTH
lynch

[jringer77]

" Did you use the "Erase Entire Disk" option?" -- Yes, I've tried all options. I finally resorted to using Western Digital's DLGDiagnostic Tool to write all 0's to the drive. Then tried all the Disk options again, still no go. Could it possibly be that I'm using i586 instead of i386? Big noob question here, but what does ix86 mean? My guess is the processor type, but the other distros I have (i386) don't work either.


" What steps, exactly, are you using when you get to the partitioning stage of installation?" -- Well, I believe I've figured out that I need at least a root, swap, and boot partition. Basically, I set up the partitions and the comp freezes up when it writes them.

What other info should I give before we continue? Hardware, Linux distro version? I'm also just learning how to check MD5 sums, but don't quite get it. I know I'm a handful right now, but I hope someone appreciates the fact that I'm trying to learn something new. Everyone's help is very much appreciated by me. Thank you to whoever decides to contribute.

Thanks,
Ringer

-------------------------------------------------
PIII 600MHz (Gateway Performance 600 sys. from '99)
384MB RAM
nVidia GeForce 3 (PNY Verto 64MB)
WD 60GB 7200rpm

[lynch]

Yes, that's a start: You can describe your hardware and what version of Linux you are trying to install. And you are right, sort of: ix86 describes the platform of your system:
ix86 = PC-based
Alpha = Alpha/Sparc
PPC = PowerPC eg., Macintosh.
If your trying to install Linux on that Gateway you describe in your signature, then it should install. I have Mandrake 9.2 running on a pIII 600mhz system with 256 MB of PC133 ram.
lynch

[Fuzzy Gnome]

If your CD drive "grinds" a lot during the HD drive partitioning you might have a bad CD drive. I had a computer that wouldn't install Linux because it wasn't reading part of the installation software right. Oddly, I think the MD5sums came out right... maybe I'm remembering wrong. A different CD drive and it installed just fine.
Anyway you might have a bad piece of hardware. If so you may get lucky and it's something easy to replace like a CD drive.

[jringer77]

Ok, it's been a while since my last post, but I've been busy with school so the Linux install has been put on the backburner for now. I bought a new book on Linux to help me learn once I get everything setup, and to have a quality CD for the install instead of using my burned ISOs. The book comes with Fedora Core 1, and guess what? I still get an error when installing! Here was the last screen from my last attempt (I'm begining to think it's a hardware/driver problem w/ my system):

<a bunch of stuff I didn't write down>

Code: 8b 02 85 c7 75 17 8b 1b 39 f3 75 f1 ff 75 f0 9d 8d 65 f4 5b
<0>Kernel panic: Aiee, killing interrupt handler!
In interrupt handler - not syncing

I hope someone can help, thanks!
Ringer

[jringer77]

Here's my hardware setup:
Parts from my old Gateway Performance 600 Desktop

Gateway mobo (don't know what brand)
PIII 600MHz
384Mb RAM PC133
WD 60Gig HDD (pm)
PNY Verto GeForce3 64Mb Graphics card
Phillips CD/RW Drive (not sure on read/write speed) slow
Older SoundBlaster card
NIC card

That's basically it; let me know if I should include anything else.

Ringer