[r3drock3t88]

Hey all, I have read a few of the threads on here about dual booting windows and Linux, but I am still not 100% sure as to how to go about doing this.

This is what I have so far...

For windows, you simply install the operating system onto your harddrive, got it. Now, I have partition magic and I plan on partitioning my harddrive using this. I have been reading around and I noticed you need, and i quote "at the cheapest two partitions". Giving me a total of 3 partitions...

I have a 120 gig harddrive with 1 gig of ram. I read all over the place about this "linux swap" and its a good idea to have it be atleast twice the size of your RAM.

How does this partition setup sound?

1st - Windows 2000 (90 Gigs)
2nd - Ubuntu Linux (28 Gigs)
3rd - Linux "Swap" (2 Gigs)

I read somewhere else that you don't need much room for ubuntu linux, just enough for the kernell image? That is mainly what threw me off.

So to sum it up, the above partitions are what I plan on making, then I plan on installing my ubuntu distro on the 2nd partition, and doing nothing but creating the linux swap partition.

Thank you very much in advance! sorry for the lengthy thread .

[vtel57]

I had 5 distributions of Linux and a Windows XP installed on a 120Gig drive. There's plenty of room.

If you're comfortable with Partition Magic, that's fine, but you can actually do everything you need to do with the partitioner on the Windows installation disk.

If it were me, I'd do it this way...

Use the Windows installer disk to partition the drive:

Logical partition 1: Windows --> 40Gig --> FAT32 or NTFS

Logical partition 2: Common storage --> 40 Gig --> FAT32

Extended partition 1: Linux /root --> 10Gig --> FAT32 (allow Linux to reformat this to ext3 when you install Linux)

Extended partition 2: Linux /home --> 25Gig --> FAT32 (allow Linux to reformat this to ext3 when you install Linux)

Extended partition 3: Linux /swap --> 2+Gig --> FAT32 (allow Linux to reformat this as SWAP when installing Linux)

Install your Windows first. Next install your Ubuntu. Allow the GRUB to be installed on the disk MBR (master boot record). This will wipe out the Windows boot, but that's OK. The GRUB will pick up the Windows and allow you to boot to it should you choose.

That's it... enjoy!

Saikee, who is the resident multi-boot expert, should be popping in here in a bit. I'm sure he'll have some good advice for you also.

Luck!

[saikee]

I happen to be a believer for single partition for Linux (or all the other OS) for a non-server application and therefore I would go along with the Post #1 proposal.

As I have 95% of the Linux installed and operating in 5Gb partition, with personal data in a fat32 partition accessible by other systems to minimize the footprint, I therefore think 10Gb partition for a Linux is ample.

Partition Magic is not good for Linux and since one can use Ubuntu as a Live CD nowaday I would recommend using "cfdisk" in the terminal mode of Ubuntu to do all the partitioning work because

(1) The partition created by cfdisk is automaticallt has a partition Type No. 83 suitable for native Linux.

(2) Cfdisk can be used to alter a partition type No. for a swap it is 82 whereas for a ntfs partition it is Type 7.

Whatever unallocated space left can be used in future so there is no need to use up everything.

To use cfdisk in Ubuntu the command is

sudo cfdisk /dev/hda

if you have a Sata then subsitute hda with sda. The partition table is only permanent if you select "write" and press return, answer "yes" and press return again.

You will find having partitions available first can half the installation problems. All you need to do is to make sure the installer use the partition nominated by you and nothing else.

For a single partition installation you nominate a partition to mount the "/" of the Linux and all /boot, /home etc will be automatically created as subdirectories inside it by the installer. It is easier to find, to identify, boot, to maintain, to resize and ultimate to migrate it anywhere in a PC or onto another PC if you have such a need.

[Cannon Fodder]

I have played with Ubuntu and as I remember its installer will take care fo the partitioning issue for the kernel and swap file. You shouldn't need to partition off more than the TOTAL space you are going to allow linux to use. As for the Windblows file system I have used NTFS since moving to XP.

[saikee]

Any OS will try to use up all your hard disk if you permit its installer to do "automatic partitioning". That includes Linux and Windows

For a multiple OS installations I believe a user should know where are the operating systems being held. Using cfdisk will

(1) tells the user immediately how the disks and partitions are being named differently in Linux from Windows.

(2) guide a user how to use primary, extended and logical partitions, as you cannot create an extended partition in cfdisk but the first logical partition created will cause one to be formed. cfdisk also show you how the partitions are numbered according to the way you form them. For example if you start a raw hard disk with the first logical partition it will be the 5th like hda5 or sda5 and the first primary partition slot hda1 will immediately changed to the extended partition without your interference.

(3) teach a user the difference between a Pata, Sata and external USB disks by the naming conventions.

(4) show that there are over 100 different partition types.

(5) indicate that partition creation is separated from formatting. This give you a better idea on partition types, filing systems and how a partition should be mounted too.

There are many things one can learn from using a partitioning software like cfdisk or fdisk. Some of them are crucial for suvival. Leaving an installer to take care of everything is a short term fix that will not help you later on, especially if you have a need to correct a corrupted or re-build a partition table.

If you manually create your own partitions, know their names, sizes, types, order and keep a record of them all your partitions are safe and can be rebuilt without any loss of data.

[r3drock3t88]

Wow, thanks for the responses all.

I am still confused however, ( go figure ). I already have Windows 2000 installed using one partition for just that (120 gigs).

I can put in the windows 2000 installation disc and use that to partition my drives, I got that. But what I am still confused about is what exactly to partition. I need a linux swap of about 2gb. My windows 2000 already had space, so whatever I leave left it will use(90 gbs probably). My ubuntu I want to have about 20 - 30 gigs. I make this partition an ext 3 linux ? This is where I am getting confused. And also with the GRUB and MBR.

I really appreciate the help everyone! I'm just a little nervous because I don't want to have to format again lol (although I'm told I shouldn't be lol) but I have some pretty bad luck when it comes to having to reformat.


Logical partition 1: Windows --> 40Gig --> FAT32 or NTFS

Logical partition 2: Common storage --> 40 Gig --> FAT32

Extended partition 1: Linux /root --> 10Gig --> FAT32 (allow Linux to reformat this to ext3 when you install Linux)

Extended partition 2: Linux /home --> 25Gig --> FAT32 (allow Linux to reformat this to ext3 when you install Linux)

Extended partition 3: Linux /swap --> 2+Gig --> FAT32 (allow Linux to reformat this as SWAP when installing Linux)

This was in the above post...
What exactly does it mean by common storage? Will both operating systems write to here if needed?

The Linux /root and Linux /home - What's the main difference between them and why is it a good idea to create both / how does once create both.

Again, I appreciate all the responses and sorry I'm being a little repetitive, I'm a noob on when it comes to this, and I'd like to get it right the first time .

Thanks again...

[vtel57]

Yes, common storage (or whatever you want to name it) is for the purpose of storing data that you would want to read/write to from both operating systems.

Linux directory hierarchy is divided into sub-directories: /root, /home, /usr, /var, etc. Unlike Saikee, I always install my Linux on two different partitions (three, if you count /swap). The reason I do this is so that if there is ever a problem with the /root portion of the OS, I can reinstall it without formatting (losing all my personal data) the /home partition. To each their own, though.

Once you create your partitions using whatever partition method you choose and begin to install Ubuntu (or any other distro of Linux), the distro's installer will ask you for "mount points" for the different directories. For example, you might choose hda3 (first IDE drive, 3rd partition) as the mount point for /root (commonly represented as just a single slash... / ). You might choose hda4 as the mount point for /home.

Here's a link for some great Ubuntu resources:

http://forums.scotsnewsletter.com/in...l=Ubuntu+links

And a link for some general Linux resources and tips:

http://brunolinux.com/

If you already have 2000 installed on the entire disk, you're going to have to resize that single partition to give you enough free space on the disk to install Linux. If you're not worried about (and have backups of your important data) 2000, the best way is to wipe the drive and start with a clean slate, so to speak.

You'll find that there are as many different ways to install Linux as there are people installing it. Do your homework. Visit other forums. Ask questions. Above all... enjoy yourself in the process. Learning Linux should be challenging and FUN, not drudgery.

Luck!

Oh, and here's another resource for you... Scot Finnie's Newsletter Forums --> All Things Linux. Stop in for a visit... lots of good info there.

http://forums.scotsnewsletter.com/in...p?showforum=14

Later...

[RootbeaR]

Originally Posted by r3drock3t88

Logical partition 1: Windows --> 40Gig --> FAT32 or NTFS

Logical partition 2: Common storage --> 40 Gig --> FAT32
Both OSs' will see this
Extended partition 1: Linux /root --> 10Gig --> FAT32 (allow Linux to reformat this to ext3 when you install Linux) This is for the Linux OS

Extended partition 2: Linux /home --> 25Gig --> FAT32 (allow Linux to reformat this to ext3 when you install Linux) This is for files using Linux. If you have to re-install, you do not lose your files as you only re-install OS on above Partition.

Extended partition 3: Linux /swap --> 2+Gig --> FAT32 (allow Linux to reformat this as SWAP when installing Linux) This is similar to "Page File" in windows.

[Cannon Fodder]

OK, seems no one can EVER understand what I am saying!

I said that he should make a PARTITION on his hard drive for the TOTAL amount of space he wanted for Linux! This was to include the amount FOR the distro of LINUX, PLUS the amount FOR the SWAP FILE. Which in his case looks like 30GB and define the amounts DURING THE LINUX INSTALL.