How big of a partition do I need for Mandrake Linux 8.1???
 

? and what format exactly? Is it Linux ext2 or something? I have PartitionMagik. heh, :newbie: here!
Thanx in advance!

Stealth -

P.S. I hate being a newB, argh... :D

The size of a partition you need depends entirely on what you are going to do with it. If you want to use linux as a real replacement for windows, then I would suggest at least 10 gigs so you will have room to grow. If you just want to mess around with it a little, you could make it smaller. Technically, you can install linux in a very small space, even a floppy disk, but the functionality you get will be limited.
Also, for linux you will actually need 2 partitions. One will be your main partition for all of your files and the operating system itself and such. This is the one to follow the above space guidelines on, and will be of the type Linux ext2. The other partition you need is called a swap partition, and it is like virtual memory in Windows (if you don't know what that is, it's a space on the hard drive to act like RAM when the RAM is full). This partition should be twice as big as the amount of RAM you have, as a general rule (i.e. 512 megs for 256 megs of RAM), and should be of type Linux Swap or something of that nature (I've not used partitionmagic so I'm not sure).

Yes, being a newbie does suck. :D

Ok here is what I got now
3gb for Winxx
5.5gb for Linux (Linux ext2)
500mb for Linux Swap (392mb PC133 RAM) (can this be in FAT32? or what?)
14gb for Appz
4gb for misc files

How's that look?

Stealth -

Looks fine to me, just realize you don't *have* to have the misc. files and the apps on seperate partitions. But if you intended that then thats cool. The swap space should be formatted not as fat32 but as "linux swap":

The Misc Files partition was there to begin with. I made that one when I first partitioned my HD when I bought it.
Ok, now how do I format the 500mb partition into ''Linux Swap''?
There isn't that option in PartitionMagik6 Or do I do that in Linux it self, either when I install or after installed?

I plan on dual-booting it with Win2K (Win2K being on drive C:/)

Stealth -

with 392mb ram, you are soooooooooooooo never gonna touch a swap file. and if you really want to have a swap file, then 150mb is more than plenty. i'm running md80 with 256mb pc133, and i've NEVER used the swap file yet. nuke it.. you don't need it. There is a howto out there somehow on how to use a partition for swap for BOTH linux and windows, which is interesting, but you really don't need a swap, maybe 100 if you really intend to whup your system, but i so doubt you'll need it.

and as for formatting, madrake will do it all for you, including creatnig partitions and all that. mandrake is very clever. give it some credit!

And being a bit irritating and picky... your windows system is ALWAYS c:\ it's what windows calls the partition that it booted on.. i presume you simply mean the first partition? under linux this is /dev/hda, not c:\

Yes, I know that Windows must always be on c:/:rolleyes: :D
So I can nuke the 500mb partition then? Or...?
Thanx


Stealth -

Well, my personal view would be to say, Nah stuff it, don't bother with it, it's just another thing to go wrong. Linux won't use it. I suppose there's the official line that says you should always have one, but i'd gladly bet you a Monkey-Shocker that it'll never get used. i've been running linux for 3 hours now, compiling some small programs, and generally crashing mozilla, and i've only managed to use 200mb of ram so far anyway, And that's in total, far than at one time, if you know about the kernel memory management concept.

And remember, in order to start using the swap file, linux will have to be using ALL of your 392mb at one time to even go there... this might only ever ever ever happen if you're compiling one stupidly enormous program... like HUUUUUUUUUUGE, I've certainly never compiled anythign that needed it, Kernels, X server.. nothing.

remove it.. you can fit erm.... 170 mp3's in that space!

*sits back and waits to be shot down*

LOL! Thanx man! I'll just go and delete it and spend another 15 mins. watchen as the drive mappper goes around my system :D

Stealth -