Re: Duh! B) Re: Problems installing Mandrake on a G4 mac

From: Mike Dee (emteedee_at_optushome.com.au)
Date: 12/13/04 

Date: 13 Dec 2004 20:53:24 GMT

C Lund <clund@notam02SPAMBLOCK.no> wrote in
news:clund-48F251.14384913122004@amstwist00.chello.com:

> In article <Xns95BFEACB971Aemteedee@130.133.1.4>,
> Mike Dee <emteedee@optushome.com.au> wrote:
>> C Lund <clund@notam02SPAMBLOCK.no> wrote in news:clund-
>> F1D251.12280313122004@amstwist00.chello.com:
>> > Should I just choose hda15 and move on? Will I also be asked to
>> > selected partitions for usr and so on?
>> No.
>
> "No I should not just choose hda15" or "no I will not be asked
> ..."?

No to choosing hda15 and moving on [just yet]
 
>> Reformat your drive for normal Mac use and leave space for Linux
>> [your spare 19GB] at the end of the drive as Free [not
>> formatted]. Reinstall your Mac stuff.
>
> That would pretty much leave me with the setup I currently have on
> the HD in question (the second HD is a different matter, but I
> don't want the Mandrake installer anywhere near it). My Linux
> partition is last on the partition list, so I assume it's at the
> end of my drive ...?

The mandrake installer is quite safe, I've used it several times, it
will leave any Mac partition alone and automatically partition the free
space as [assuming the last Mac partition is hda10] hda11 - bootstrap,
hda12 - root, hda13 - swap, and hda14 - home. Even the custom install
wants to do this, until you tell it otherwise.

> However, how do I leave space as "free"? Disk Utility gives me
> three options:
>
> Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
> Mac OS Extended
> UNIX File System

Don't you get any options on partition sizes? I'm only familiar with
the Classic Mac "Drive Setup" application. With that prog it was easy
to choose a Custom partition scheme and format only the amount of drive
required, leaving xxx space free for another OS.
 
> The Linux partition is currently set to "UNIX File System".

It is possible to install Linux to a single partition, but it is more
usual to partition to at least a root, swap, home and maybe usr
 
>> Go through this online demo [it's dated but useful]
>> <http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/demos/PPC/Install/>
>
>> Don't be hasty clicking through the links, some of the pages are
>> animated and have extra info. Once you get to page 14 [they're
>> all very brief] make sure you click onto the *red underlined*
>> 'Recommended" and 'Expert' links to continue the demo. DrakX no
>> longer looks like it does in the demo, but there is still some
>> [very] useful newbie info to be had.
>
> Certainly. But the problem is that when I come to
>
> http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/demos/PPC/Install/Reco/pages/
>
> (page 2 in the recommended install)

Check out the "Expert" install, it's more comprehensive and not all
that 'expert' it has much better formatting options:
<http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/demos/PPC/Install/Expert/index.php3>
 
> the partitioning options diverge from those in the text-only
> installer, which I have to use because of video-incompatibilities
> or something. The only options I have are "Erase entire disk" and
> "Custom disk partitioning". "Use free space" and "Use existing
> partition" are not present.

Well you would certainly choose "Custom" in this instance as you wish
to keep your existing Mac partitions.
 
> BTW: There's a more updated version (10.1) of the guide here:
>
> http://doc.mandrakelinux.com/MandrakeLinux/100/en/Starter.html/drak
> x.ht ml

Thanks. The old guide is still relevant and lot easier to navigate plus
has great pix - the 'look' of DrakX has changed to reflect the times
but basically it's still the same.

One thing though; In your attempts at getting a GUI install, did you
try the argument "install-novideo"? which gives basic, framebuffer
video support (graphical install), as opposed to "install-text"?

By what method is your display attached to the G4? I believe there are
2 types of connection you can choose? I seem to recall reading about an
incompatibility with Linux PPC and nVidia drivers, as to getting an X
display via one of the connection types or even accelerated 3D. I've
been trying to dig something up via Google but so far no luck. 

-- 
dee

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