installing win xp on my linux machine
 

hi guys,

Some info: i got a 200 GB hdd, 3 patisions, first one is 18 gb , second one is 2 gb swap patition, the tird is 180 gb data storage.
On my 180 gb patition is all my stuff (no backup of that)
On my 18 gb is linux mandrake 8.2.
My girl is living with me now and she want's a windows xp machine (she has xp at work, and office and so on...)
So i like too make a dual os machine (xp and linux)
But offcource the windows install cd, does not see my C:, linux boot patition..
The most inportant too me is that my data storage (180 gb patition) is NOT DELETED, and NOT LOST in any way...
Reinstalling linux or repatitioning the first 20 gb of the disk is no problem too me.
What are my options?
thnx
Kinghimself

Try running fdisk from a boot floppy or boot CD (don't run fdisk while you have Linux loaded). Just delete your primary Linux partition (I'm assuming it's hda1 because it's first on the disk) and make a 9GB partition at the first place on the disk (for Windows), and a 9GB partition after that for Linux. Don't format the partitions yet; just write the empty partitions to the partition table when you're done. Keep in mind that this will make your system unbootable by itself. You probably want to install Windows first on the first partition, and then install Linux onto the second 9GB partition, and install GRUB or LILO to dual-boot the system.

You are saying contradictory things. You have a 180 GB partition that you don't want to lose, but you don't have it backed up (if it is backed up, you should wipe everything, install MSWinXP, reinstall Linux, recover data from backup), and you are going to give someone else access to the machine.

Seriously consider buying a second HDD for MSWinXP, and a removable HDD kit for both your Linux drive and the MSWinXP drive. Then physically swap boot drives as needed.

If you don't have a boot/rescue cd there's a good one at
http://sourceforge.net/projects/rescuecd/

You can fdisk from that. delete the first partition (assuming that's the 18 GB one), create two partitions in the free space (assuming you're going to install Linux on a single partition), install XP first on the first, Linux second on the second.

idaho's suggestion of a second hard drive for Linux is a good one. Also when messing with partitions if you're religious prayer is recommended. Otherwise a plush penguin sitting on the monitor might do ( http://www.thinkgeek.com/cubegoodies/toys/288e/ )