Re: Format Hard Drive
From: Happy_Dragon (HappyDragon_at_thiscave.net)
Date: 02/12/05
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Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2005 01:00:54 -0600
crjunk@earthlink.net wrote in
news:1108188802.076330.172390@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
> First off let me say that I know almost nothing about linux. I'm
> really excited about learning more about the OS.
>
> I recently was given a computer that had Win 2K on it. I did not know
> the password in order to log into the computer, so I decided to try
> installing linux over it. I installed Linux Fedora tonight with no
> problems. I believe that when I installed it, it completly deleted Win
> 2k, but I'm not positive.
>
> After reading some articles, I read where it is best to install window
> first before installing linux, if you want two operating systems on the
> computer - this is what I would like to do with this computer.
>
> I tried an old win 98cd, but it would not install - the pc went
> straight into Linux even though the bios is set to load from my cd
> drive first. I found an old Win 95 boot disk and inserted it into my
> a: drive. After getting a F:\ prompt, I tried running setup.exe on the
> disk. I'm getting a message that says I need to create a partition
> because win 98 cannot be installed on ntfs.
>
> I'm not sure what I should do. Should I completly wipe out the hard
> drive before trying to install Win 98? (btw there's no data on the HD
> that I want to save.) If so, how do I go about it? After I have WIn 98
> installed, I want to re-install Linux on the hard drive.
>
> Thanks to anyone who can help me get away from Windows.
>
> Crjunk
>
>
Well, rather than start with what is now obvious to me, I shorten the dual-
boot rant. It's not always the best thing.
First, Win98 is aging, so if you do have access to a Win2k disc and are
planning to use the Windows partition for something than 2k might be a
better idea. Also note that Win98 installs to a fat32 partition but Win2k
can use either ntfs or fat32. If you plan on transfering files between
systems and use 2k note that support for ntfs is best said to be read-only.
Either way, whatever linux distro should be installed last. The
bootloader, whether it be lilo or grub, can boot the windows partition if
you ever wish that upon yourself...
As an example ,let's say a 40gb hd:
Using the windows boot disk and MS fdisk, create a 10gb primary partition.
Leave the rest blank, and do the usual install.
When installing the linux distro, use whatever partitioning tools to create
a extended partition with the remaining space. For this example, I might
setup a root partition of ~10gb, an appropriatly sized swap partition, and
the rest as a /home partition. I'm not certain on grub in this case, but
it likely is the same as lilo; install it to the MBR and edit the
appropriate config file to add a stanza for the windows partition.
Now my advice from a few years back, when I started dealing with linux.
Plan to read some. Don't be afraid of the documentation, as there are
plenty of howtos especially for things like dual-booting. Don't be afraid
to break something, and don't be afraid to try to fix what you broke.
Explore, get comfortable, but realize that somewhere down the line the
command line may be useful, even if if takes you a year or more to feel
ready. Try more than one distro, and try compiling a custom kernel; get
used to the amount of power you have with Linux. Learn to love Google,
usenet, and your area Linux user group if you have one. Give them a visit,
and hopefully you'll find someone that will be happy to help you in
proportion to what effort you are willing to put in; effort and a few
specific questions on your part will likely aid you more than hand-holding.
Actually, if they have an installfest at sometime during the year this is a
great time to meet new users, seasoned users, or just those out for a
change.
So, take thyself to those dual-boot howtos and setup a specific plan on
what you exactly want and go forth.
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