Partitions for Linux on Vista laptop

papy_david · 01-17-2009, 05:42 AM

I have installed linux (Ubuntu 8.10) on several laptops, but here I am stumped. Owner of Asus has attempted a do-it-yourself. Seen from Gparted on live CD the HD (250Gb) has for Vista 3 main partitions : sda1 a restore partition, sda2 a system partition and a sda3 data partition. The partition for Linux shows as a logical partition in sda3 (with the data) and has been formatted ext3 128 i nodes for Grub. How do I proceed ? I would feel safe having Linux on a fourth main partition sda4 with logical partitions for |root | home | swap |. For Grub is it possible to add a small fourth logical partition e.g. mounted as /boot formatted with 128 i nodes, leaving other linux partitions with new default 256 i nodes ?
I have not been able to change anything using gparted on live CD.
Any ideas will be welcomed.

beachboy2 · 01-17-2009, 05:56 AM

This guide should help you:
http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vi...lled_first.htm

Use Vista's own shrink tool to minimise the Vista partitions and then install Ubuntu 8.10 in the remaining hard drive space.
After installation, Ubuntu 8.10 will automatically put GRUB on MBR so that you can dual-boot both OSs.

Instead of choosing “Guided-Use the largest continuous free space”, you could select “Manual”. This is very useful if you wish to have a separate home partition (/home).
First create a (Primary) allocated Extended partition (sda4) in that continuous remaining (non-Vista) free space.
Then within sda4 create 3 (or more) Logical partitions (sda5, sda6, sda7).

So now in addition to sda1, sda2, sda3 for Vista, we require:

sda4 allocated Extended which contains 3 Logical partitions (ready for Ubuntu 8.10):

sda5 ext3 root /
sda6 linux-swap
sda7 ext3 home /home

Use Ubuntu's partitioner to create the above partitions.
Remember to format partitions sda5 and sda6 and mount them on mount points / and /home respectively. sda6 the linux-swap partition is not formatted and has no mount point.
For sda5 I would allocate about 12 to 15GB. For sda6, about 2GB. It is up to you to decide how large you want make sda7. If you have tons of space remaining then consider making additional spare logical partitions (sda8, sda9 etc).
If you are not sure about any of this then Google for a tutorial on Linux partitioning first and also backup important data. Vista also has provision for making a Recovery disk!

Brian1 · 01-17-2009, 01:03 PM

Just to let you know papa david. The maximum primary partitions allowed are 4. It you use 4 then you cannot have any other extended or logical partitions. This is why the 4th partition will need to be an extended one to have addtional logical partitions.

Brian