RedHat Install from Windows
 

Hey, I just bought Red Hat Linux 7.3. Right now im running Windows XP. Do I need to uninstall windows before I install RedHat?
Also how do I install it in general. I am used to putting the CD-Rom in and the Installation starts up. The instuction book is un clear. PLease help

thx
Chris M.

It's easy. I suppose you'd like to have both XP and Linux.
First, you need to make space for Linux. You can use commercial PartitionMagic or fips that comes with your RedHat (first installation cd, directory dosutils, if I remember correctly). Just leave it free space (not assigned to any partition).
Then boot from the cd and start installation. Just read what it writes and answer questions. Usually default answers are OK. The only thing in your case is that you can't install any Linux bootloader (like Lilo) in MBR. XP doesn't like it. Instead, install Lilo on main (/) Linux partiton and create a boot disk when asked if you'd like it.
After installation check if XP is OK (it will be...), then use your boot floppy and boot into Linux. Log in as root (and type password you've choosen during installation) and type (from console):
dd if=/dev/hda5 of=boot.lnx
where /dev/hda5 is the partition you have installed Lilo, change it with the right value in your system.
Now copy 'boot.lnx' file to Windows C: partiton.
Boot to Windows, edit 'boot.ini', add a line:
C:\BOOT.INI="Linux"
save the file and reboot. In your boot menu you should have Linux and it should boot when you choose it.
More detailed explanation can be found at www.tldp.org, Linux+NT-Loader HOWTO.

"Then boot from the cd and start installation."

How do I do this?

Sorry I'm brand new to Linux.

warning when I start FIPS
 

It says the program is attempting to directely access the Hard Drive which can not be supported, then I hit Ingnore and Windows shut down the program, hmmmm

how much space do I give the partition???
 

I got a 20 GB hard Drive so I was thinking maybe 8GB for the Red hat?????
And at what offset do I start the Partition?

Instert first install disk into your cdrom drive. Boot your machine, hit Del during memory count, bios menu will appear. Find option "boot sequence" (or something with similar meaning, if unsure consult your mobo manual), set 'cdrom' at the first position, save and exit. Now it should boot frm the cd and start installation. When finished, enter bios again and change your settings back as they were.

Re: warning when I start FIPS
 

Fips should be started when you boot from a boot disk (for safety, without other programs running at the same time).

Re: how much space do I give the partition???
 

You can give last 8GB for Linux. Remember have it free, run scandisk and defrag before using fips.

Grotto,
It could be very frustrating for a new person to start installing/
using linux. Don't loose hope.
Usually, Microsoft doesn't accomodate Linux. Therefore you have
to put your own efforts to install Llinux (redhat, mandrake etc).

Any operating system needs it's own space on the hard drive. Xp
does it, so does Linux.

If you have only one hard disk, the it needs to be split into what
are called partitions. One hard drive can have at most 4 partitions
But since you have only Linux and XP, you need 2 min partitions.
One partition for each.
Unike XP, Linux needs to partitions: root partition, and swap
partition. (It's ok if you have both root and swap in the same
but it's better if u have two seperate ones). So you need 3.
Now that you understand so much, you willl need to make space
for your linux. If you do not have any important data, I suggest
you format your disk. If you do not want to do that, you are wel
come to use 3rd party tools such as Partition magic to actually
devide your drive into at least 2 partitions ( I suggest 3).

If you want to format your hard disk:
Just format it. Get rid of XP, but backup your data.
Use boot floppy to create at least 3 partitions. Install XP in first.

Once you have XP installed: Boot the computer with Linux CDs,
and follow instructions. You will come to a point where it wil ask
you give info about your install partitions. At that point, select
edit button, and mount the Linux partition as "/" (root), and if u
created 3rd partition, use it for "swap". And then you are all set.

I suggest you use LILO to boot both XP and Linux. But, in the first
attempt, LILO wil boot only LInux. You can modify certain files to
be able to boot XP too.

It's a long process, so you can take one step by one.
However, it's important that you backup you data first.