Question about partition

kvalenza · 01-09-2006, 07:52 PM

I partitioned my hard drive so that I could instal SUSE Linux in a dual-booted environment. I am a complete newby, so I really no nothing about partitioning.

I recently downloaded Partition magic. I am thinking about installing Xandros and illiminating SUSE. Will Xandros automatically install into the SUSE partition? Or will I need to use Partition magic to get rid of the partition?

I am assuming that the Linux partitions have the named "Linux" somewhere on the partition list. But are there any other partitions that need to be removed? I would prefer just installing Xandros where SUSE is installed, but I am not sure if I can do that.

Please walk me through this. I am not a techie.

Keith

HappyTux · 01-09-2006, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kvalenza

I partitioned my hard drive so that I could instal SUSE Linux in a dual-booted environment. I am a complete newby, so I really no nothing about partitioning.

I recently downloaded Partition magic. I am thinking about installing Xandros and illiminating SUSE. Will Xandros automatically install into the SUSE partition? Or will I need to use Partition magic to get rid of the partition?

I am assuming that the Linux partitions have the named "Linux" somewhere on the partition list. But are there any other partitions that need to be removed? I would prefer just installing Xandros where SUSE is installed, but I am not sure if I can do that.

Please walk me through this. I am not a techie.

Keith

Most distros offer you the choice on where to install too during the setup so you should be okay there is no need to repartition you just need to select the already existing partitions. To find which partitions are on your drive use the command below.

Code:

HappyTux:/home/stephen# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/hda: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hda1               1          62      497983+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/hda2   *          63        1156     8787555   83  Linux
/dev/hda3            1157        1855     5614717+  83  Linux
/dev/hda4            1856       14593   102317985    5  Extended
/dev/hda5            1856        7934    48829536   83  Linux
/dev/hda6            7935       14593    53488386   83  Linux

Disk /dev/sda: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1               1          62      497983+  82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2   *          63        1035     7815622+  83  Linux
/dev/sda3            1036        2008     7815622+  83  Linux
/dev/sda4            2009       14593   101089012+  83  Linux

When you look at the output of the command it should be easy to tell which partitions to install into the only catch maybe as you can see in on my first drive the "Extended" partition (hda4), this is only a container partition that contains other logical partitions (hda5, hda6) you would not choose this but the partitions contained within it.

pixellany · 01-10-2006, 12:01 AM

A Linux installer will typically find all your existing partitions and give you a choice of using one or more of them--or making new ones. If you do not need to create space by shrinking some existing partition, then don't bother with Partition Magic. Probably best to simply start the Xandros installer, have it delete the SUSE partitions, and then create new for Xandros.

give us your total disk setup for more detailed advice: ("fdisk -l" as root, or "sudo fdisk -l")

arunvk · 01-10-2006, 12:40 AM

when u boot the system with the bootable cd, u will get 2 options of installing:-
1. automatically partition
2. manually with disk druid

choose the 2nd option. then u can choose the partition on which u want to install.