Partitions size
Hi,
I just bought/built a new system and now I want to install Mandrake 9.1 on it. My questions are about the partitions. For now, I have 2x40gig partitions (on the same drive). The fist is NTFS and holds Winblows xp. The second is FAT32 and is for data. I have 2 questions: 1)Is it save to resize a NTFS to install mandrake or should I install it on the FAT32 partition. 2) I'm considering making my linux partitions about 10 or 15 gig totally (should be enough?). I know that I have to do multiple partitions(swap, / , /home , others?). How many partitions should I make and what size should they have? Finally I would like to be able to use my data (FAT32) partition with linux and windows. If you need more info, just ask for it. Edit: Just want to ask what file system should I use. Hope this won't become a flame war :tisk: Cheers, Spy5600 |
Hi spy5600
Mandrake needs to go on a Linux filesystem - don't install it on FAT32. Backing up and defragging is always a good idea before re-sizing any Windows partition. The way to install Mabdrake after XP is already on your machine - is to leave some completly free space at the end of the drive (no filesystem on it in advance) Then - you have the choice of letting Mandrake Automatically install into the free space or manually installing it in the free space For starters - I'd let it automatically install itself - Once youve got some free space though. You can use a FAT32 partition as a shared data partition. Personally I'd do it like this: /dev/hda1 - - XP main install NTFS /dev/hda2 - - FAT32 shared data partition Free space on the rest of your drive to let Mandrake automatically install into When your a little more comfortable with Linux - then maybe think about a fancier partitining scheme - but for starters, an automatic install is sufficient. |
Thanks for the info Skyline,
I know that I can't install directly on FAT32. Just wanted to know which between NTFS and FAT32 was the safest to resize. But is there a tool, other than Partition Magic, to make free space? Is it possible to do it during the install? |
Yes - you can use Mandrake's disk 1 install disk to re-size partitions when installing Mandrake
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Hi spy5600
On a separate issue - I've just noticed you,ve got over 1 giabyte of memory. Mandrake 9.1 has a known problem with this. After you've installed, on your 1st reboot you might have to press F1 to go to advanced options and enter the code Linux vga = 0 Jusr something to keep in mind when you get to that point. |
Thanks for the tip. But what is the link between memory and video (vga) and what kind of bug is it (just for personal knowlege). Also, when sould I exactly press F1.
While we're on the memory subject. I've read somewhere that swap should be twice the size of the RAM. But I have 1gig of RAM and it makes no sens to use a 2gig swap partition. With 1 gig of memory, is it really needed to have a big swap partition? Thanks for all the reply so far Skyline, Spy5600 |
You can find out the specific info on Mandrakes Errata pages - I dont know what the specific bug is.
With that much memory you wont need 2 gig's worth of Swap space - 1 gig would be more than adequate |
Another question,
Since I want to use my FAT32 partition for my data, I don't need a huge /home partition (well, I think). So, if I let Mandrake choose the partitions sizes, by default the /home size is probably "big". Do you have an idea what size my /home directory should be? |
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