I was trying to install Linux Mandrake 6.1 on my hard disk (a Maxtor 6E040L0) which is divided into two NTFS partitions, one named "C" of 34 GB, with Windows XP installed on it, and the other, named "E", empty, on which I meant to install Linux. I have also another hard disk, a Quantum Fireballp AS20.5, with one FAT32 partition named "D".
When asked wheter to use Disk Druid or Fdisk, whichever answer I choose a window appears, whose title is "Fdisk error" and whose text is "An error occurred reading the partition table for the block device hda. The error was: No such file or directory." If I select "Skip" I can only see only the partition table of disk D.

Can I solve this without losing the data on partition C?

Try to get a newer version of Mandrake Linux, and partition your HDD with PowerQuest PartitionMagic, and then install the *NIX on the partitioned (ext2) partition. Good Luck!!!!

"I was trying to install Linux Mandrake 6.1 on my hard disk (a Maxtor 6E040L0) which is divided into two NTFS partitions, one named "C" of 34 GB, with Windows XP installed on it, and the other, named "E", empty, on which I meant to install Linux"

You can't install Linux on a ntfs partition. Linux can't write to a ntfs partition.

you can install mdk to hda, but to do it, you have to follow mad's advice and use partition magic. Best way is to shrink either c or e and leave unpartitioned space on the drive (do not create a partition at all). Disk druid or fdisk will both see your unpart. space and give you the option. Disk druid is better for a newbie.

Before you shrink, defrag the partition and backup important data.

If you choose to install in e, make sure the computer can boot from an inner partition. Some older computers can't.

Also, a newer version of mdk will help.