My Laptop is a Fujitsu N3510 with Windows XP pre-installed.

I decided to go install Linux again since it's been awhile. Since then I got rid of my old bulky extra PC and upgraded to a laptop for a second PC.

I used Slackware before and loved it, but I've also been looking at new Flavours and decided Debian was also a good choice with apt-get. Anyways, I downloaded Slackware 10.2 Disk 1/2 and burned the ISOs, did the same with Debian 3.1.

I installed Partition Magic 8 and resized my 60GB partition and made 16GB free so I could use that space for Linux filesystem and Linuix Swap.

I put in my Slackware 10.2 CD and started to install. Came to the point where I need to partition.. When trying to use CFDISK I get the following Error: No Partition table or unknock signature on partition table. Do you wish to start with a zero table? -- I select 'no' it goes back to the root console, I select yes it shows 665MB or so free and nothing else.

I decided to try Debian, since I decided to switch to that, and when trying to partition it says there is no valid partition on the drive and to check to make sure I have a Hard Drive installed...

I also tried making a Linux EXT3 partition and Linux Swap partition with Partition Magic and installing onto that, but when installing it says there is no valid Partition.

I assume your win does still start or did you give that up ?

If you didn't give up win you should do the following.

Resize win so you have room to install. Make a small partition for exchanging files in VFAT. Linux can read NTFS but writing is not advised. With the small VFAT you can exchange files between the two OS. Do not make more partitions. Leave free room.

Get a install disk from Kubuntu or Ubuntu, (both are debian, [ Kubuntu = kde, Ubuntu = Gnome] but they install on almost every system, I even installed them on an Ibook)

At the install you will be asked to install in the empty room. You have to make a swap partition and a \ partition. It s convenient to make partitions for home and root but not necessary.

Rest of the job will be done by (k)ubuntu. It will ask your language, your keyboard, and your network connection. Let it do the job.............

Have a lot of fun.

CloudBuilder

I would rather use straight Debian. Prolem is I can't partition or view partitions within the installers.

And yes, Windows Boots, and I plan to Dual Boot.

With Apt_get you can change the whole thing.

I did it once with knoppix and afterwards you get a compete debian system with the logo etc.

But both Ubuntu and knoppix have a much better handeling of hardware then debian. My last experience with debian had an end with debian not able to recognize my hardware ( almost 3 years old........)

You can also make an install see if it works, write down the partitions and install Debian over the whole thing.

CloudBuilder

Well, I can't even view the partitions when installing Debian or Slackware. I'm just trying to figure our why. I would like to install Debian on my laptop but I can't go further then this.