[rockballad]

Hi all,

I'm using Fedora 5 Core. Maybe something wrong with it, because the computer usually hangs (cannot interact with PC) or when I turned it off, the monitor was full of vertical/horizon lines running endlessly. I want to install the newer version FC6. But if I install FC6, it will overwrite the harddisk, isn't right? So I will lose all data. Could you tell me how to install the FC6 but still keep the data on disk (e.g. in the directory /mydata), please? I'm a newbie on Fedora. Thanks.

[saikee]

If you do not use LVM then the matter is pretty straight forward. Just down load "gaprted" or "Parted Magic", run it as a Live CD to resize the hard disk to obtain between 6 to 10 Gb and install FC6 there. You can then mount the exsting FC5 /home in the FC6 to access your data.

If you have a LVM you will find it is a hindrance to resizing and for the later mounting operation. Don't use LVM myself so I couldn't quantify the amount of trouble you may have. Without it you may even install FC6 but specify certain FC5 partitions to be used there.

[rockballad]

Thank you, saikee! When installing FC5, I formatted the harddisk as ext3 (if I can remember), and using LVM. In the worst situation, I will move all my data to another location, and after that, what can I do to install FC6 but with a individual disk (230GB) in NTFS? Because FC5 treats 2 Hard disks as one system file now.

Thanks again! Hope to hear from you soon.

[saikee]

Not using LVM myself I couldn't assist on how to extract data from it.

One thing for sure is that you can always hook up an external USB disk, mount it on the filing systemand to extract your data while running Fedora.

I always use a single partition for installing a Linux. The Red Hat family, which Fedora belongs, needs a /boot partition for booting because no boot loader can read a LVM. Thus putting Fedora into a single partition effectively prevents the formation of a LVM.

With a single partition it is easier to maintain, to boot, to resize and ultimately to migrate. Unless you use Fedora on a server you will suffer no disadvantage with a single partition installation because it takes very little time to expand or contract a normal single partition.

If you manage to get the disk back in the normal way, so that it can be read by every PC system, then just use fdisk to create a partition of the size you desire and tell Fedora installer to install Linux into it. You will need a swap partition too if Fedora is the first Linux in the PC.