When I originally built my system, I didn't plan to install Linux on it. I've recently been working with RH9 a ton, and am going to try and take it a step further by going with the "Only use windows when I really need to" approach.

Right now my system is running XP Pro, an install which I need to keep (it's running well, full of apps I use a ton and don't want to reinstall, work-related stuff, etc).

My partition table is a 20GB Fat32 Partition that is my XP/OS partition, and a 40GB partition that's basically just storage and apps that are easy to reinstall/relocate (office, visual studio, etc).

I'd like to keep my existing 20GB partition, kill the 40GB and split it half. 20GB would be my base Linux install, and the other 20 will be a partition that is storage for both Linux and RH9. I realize there are probably better distros out there - but RH9 is what I use at work and what I've been working with all along, and I'd like to stay with it.

So my question, finally.

I'm pretty sure I can use GRUB to handle the boot loader. Once I make my new partitions, I should just be able to install RH on one of them and let linux handle the boot. How do I go about setting up the other partition so that both OS's can use it?

I did a quick google and found a bit of info, but nothing really etched in stone.

The Q's:

- I'm assuming I should use Fat32 for the filesystem?
- Should I create the partition with XP or with Redhat?
- What's the best way to mount it?

It's a one-drive machine, so I *think* /dev/hda1/..something would be my mount string.

Any pointers really appreciated, and again as a newbie, I apologise if I'm asking the wrong questions or not giving enough info.

Thanks very much.

Never partition for linux using xp's partition manager. I don't think u can keep the storage partition common for linux and windoze.

of course you could keep your rpm files in that partition but u cannot install any linux software into it. u can make it fat32 but, u will not be able to install linux software.

mounting that drive would be very easy, just like mounting ur cdrom. u will need to create an entry in your fstab and also create a directory in /mnt.

I'm only looking for storage anyways - exactly just a place to keep RPMs, tars, etc.

Linux can create Fat32 partitions?

I'm going to leave the partition uncreated for the linux install and put it on freespace for the actual OS part of it. My main concern is that right now I don't have enough Linux, er, stuff, to justify a 20GB partition just for the general junk I don't want on my OS partition. I'm hoping that will change, so I'm trying to plan ahead.

I'm hoping that will change, so I'm trying to plan ahead .

Well good luck

Yes, linux can create the fat32 partition

Thanks very much.

*crosses fingers*

On another note, very important question ahead!

What's a good MP3 player for Redhat, anyways?

I had to use Partition Magic to accomplish what you want. Linux does not handle NTFS partitions well and I had to resize mine. Even though there are some Linux tools that claim to do NTFS, they had errors due to 'fragmentation'. I tried 3 or 4 de-fragmenters but alway had the resize errors using Linux tools. If you don't need to change anything on your NTFS partitions, then Linux tools should be fine.

Yes, the shared drive needs to be fat32. As I recall, I had to play with the hidden bit for that shared fat32 partition.

XMMS is a good mp3 player for X windows, although with Red Hat you'll need to download and install this file first. Another really cool program that plays not only mp3's but also DVD's, video files, etc. is mplayer that can be downloaded here, but it operates off a command line.