Re: Installing Linux on Windows dual boot machine

From: xModem (xModem_at_null.com)
Date: 04/16/05 

Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 23:10:42 -0400

On Fri, 15 Apr 2005 22:14:56 GMT, imotgm <imotgm_REM@invalid-yahoo.com> wrote:

>On Fri, 15 Apr 2005 09:00:18 -0400, xModem wrote:
>
>
>>>Did you check your partition table? I don't see it posted. That's the
>>>starting point. Post it exactly as you see it.
>>
>> Thanks for the help.
>> Had to use my Windows 98 FDISK, as it seems XP doesn't have one.
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Display Partition Information
>>
>> Current fixed disk drive: 1
>>
>> Partition Status Type Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
>> C: 1 A PRI DOS 3820 FAT32 10%
>> 2 EXT DOS 34350 90%
>>
>> Total disk space is 38170 Mbytes (1 Mbyte = 1048576 bytes)
>>
>> The Extended DOS Partition contains Logical DOS Drives.
>> Do you want to display the logical drive information (Y/N)......?[Y]
>>
>> Display Logical DOS Drive Information
>>
>> Drv Volume Label Mbytes System Usage
>> D: 10001 FAT32 29%
>> E: 24349 FAT32 71%
>>
>> Total Extended DOS Partition size is 34350 Mbytes (1 MByte = 1048576
>> bytes)
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> To recap, my internal HD is as follows;
>> C: Windows 98 (3.72 GB)
>> D: XP (9.75 GB)
>> E: data only (23.7 GB)
>>
>> I just want a basic install - I have no need for huge apps in Linux, as I'm
>> using it primarily as a learning tool, hence the ~4 GB partiton should do me.
>
>First question; is your XP really on a fat32 partition? Most are NTFS.
>Just checking.

Yes, it's FAT32. This was done deliberately when I first configured the drive
several years ago, so that I could boot from floppy and rescue files in case
of an OS failure. Just learned that Knoppix means that's not necessary any
more.

>For Linux, you will need a swap partition, as well as a / partition. Swap
>should be twice the amount of installed physical memory. Except for the
>most basic linux, this doesn't leave you with much for /. I'll give you
>some choices, and you can decide which fits your level of expertise.
>
>[Method One]
>
>First defrag all of your partitions.
>
>Back-up everything you don't want to lose.
>
>Then, the scary part, erase all the Win98 folders and files, except ntldr
>and boot.ini, and edit boot.ini to remove the Win98 boot entry.
>
>Using something like Partition Magic, shrink the C:\ partition down to
>about 10Mb, it only holds those two files, and leave it marked active.
>
>Next, again with Partition Magic, grow the extended partition to fill the
>space between C:\ and D:\ and move the D:\ partition also to the new start
>of the extended partition while keeping the size of D:\ as it is now.
>
>Extend the beginning of the E:\ partition to the end of the D:\ partition
>so that it fills the remainder of the disk.
>
>At this point, you have a 10MB C:\ with only two files, D:\ the same size
>as present, and E:\ filling out the rest of the disk.
>
>Boot to XP, and defrag all your partitions again.
>
>With Partition Magic, shrink the E:\ partition enough to leave space at
>the end of the drive equal to 6GB plus the amount you need for swap. Do
>not format the empty space, Linux will do that. 6GB will allow you to
>install a reasonable Linux, and give enough room for files and such that
>you create in Linux. Trust me on this. A little extra elbow room is a lot
>better than finding yourself choked to a halt. Ultimately, your decision.
>
>Defrag the E:\ partition.
>
>Install Linux in the empty space, using hda7 as swap, the size being
>set at twice installed memory, and hda8 as / using the rest of the space.
>Let Linux format / using the default for the distro.
>
>[Method Two]
>
>Defrag, as before.
>
>Erase all Win98 folders and files except ntldr and boot.ini as before.
>
>Move all of XP to C:\

>Move E:\ files to D:\
>
>Adjust partition sizes with Partition Magic, leaving space for Linux at
>the end.
>
>The problem with this is that "Program Files" and all non system files
>would have to be moved first, from a running XP so that the registry looks
>for them on C:\ instead of D:\. Then "Documents and Settings" needs to
>be moved, then lastly, COPY the Winnt Folder to C:\ and then edit boot.ini
>to look for XP on C:\ instead of D:\.
>
>Even then, there may still be problems, with the registry, that have to be
>hand edited, or fixed by running the XP install, and choosing "Repair
>Existing System"
>
>Once XP is running from C:\, delete the Winnt folder from D:\.
>
>This is not for the faint of heart.

I think I'd be looking at a complete reinstall of XP and my apps. I had a bad
experience moving an OS/2 install long ago, not by choice, when something went
bad with Partition Magic.

>[Method three]
>
>This one is easy. Leave the hdd alone, and move it from master, on the
>primary ide controller, hda, to master on the secondary ide controller,
>hdc, install a new hdd as the master on the primary controller, hda, and
>install Linux there. This has the advantage that the Linux boot loader,
>either lilo or grub, will be installed on the "Linux drive" and can be
>protected from being overwritten by future XP repairs, a common problem.

>You will still have a dual Windows boot, as well as Linux, and if for any
>reason you have a problem with the Linux bootloader, or need to do a
>Windows repair, either one, simply unplugging the four prong power plug
>from the "Linux drive" will allow your Windows drive to boot as it now
>does. If I have a drive with Windows on it this is how I do it. Going
>further, the machine I'm on now, has a dual Win98, Win2K drive on the
>third ide controller, (add in card) and boots from hde.
>
>Also, if you decide that Linux is not for you, you can switch the drives,
>Windows will boot without a hitch, and you can repartition and format the
>second drive for extra storage. Drives are cheap these days. I just got a
>Hitachi 160GB for $59.99, with a USB external case thrown in free, from
>CompUSA.

Whew! Thanks a bunch for the great explanations. Lots of good information to
peruse. Seems that it's a lot more hassle than I envisioned.

Looks like it will be Method 2, if I decide to do this.

I hate to ask you for more, but how should I partition the drive beyond XP on
C:\? Ideally, should Linux be installed before my data partition, after it,
or does it matter?

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