Partition Help

Task · 07-16-2003, 12:49 PM

Okay, keep in mind your dealing with a 15 year old who has no idea what he just did.

I need to set a partition on my second hard drive to the active partition (so Windows will boot). Can I do this via Linux?

acid_kewpie · 07-16-2003, 12:59 PM

yes, just use fdisk or cfdisk (which is nicer than fdisk) to set it, its' a doddle. you will of course need to be root.

fancypiper · 07-16-2003, 01:07 PM

Yes. Log into your user account and open an x terminal. We will use the Linux tool fdisk. Here is what my x terminal looks like when I make a partition active or bootable:

Code:

fancy@uilleann $ su -
Password: 
root@uilleann # fdisk -l

Disk /dev/hdc: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 bytes

   Device Boot    Start       End    Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hdc1             1      9729  78148161   83  Linux

Disk /dev/hda: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 4865 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 bytes

   Device Boot    Start       End    Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hda1   *         1      1217   9772056    c  Win95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda2          1217      1229     99855   83  Linux
/dev/hda3          1230      1676   3590527+  83  Linux
/dev/hda4          1677      4865  25615642+   5  Extended
/dev/hda5          1677      1742    530113+  82  Linux swap
/dev/hda6          1743      2189   3590496   83  Linux
/dev/hda7          2190      2636   3590496   83  Linux
/dev/hda8          2637      3751   8956206   83  Linux
/dev/hda9          3752      4865   8948173+  83  Linux
root@uilleann # fdisk /dev/hdc

The number of cylinders for this disk is set to 9729.
There is nothing wrong with that, but this is larger than 1024,
and could in certain setups cause problems with:
1) software that runs at boot time (e.g., old versions of LILO)
2) booting and partitioning software from other OSs
   (e.g., DOS FDISK, OS/2 FDISK)

Command (m for help): m
Command action
   a   toggle a bootable flag
   b   edit bsd disklabel
   c   toggle the dos compatibility flag
   d   delete a partition
   l   list known partition types
   m   print this menu
   n   add a new partition
   o   create a new empty DOS partition table
   p   print the partition table
   q   quit without saving changes
   s   create a new empty Sun disklabel
   t   change a partition's system id
   u   change display/entry units
   v   verify the partition table
   w   write table to disk and exit
   x   extra functionality (experts only)

Command (m for help): a
Partition number (1-4): 1

Command (m for help): p

Disk /dev/hdc: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 9729 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 bytes

   Device Boot    Start       End    Blocks   Id  System
/dev/hdc1   *         1      9729  78148161   83  Linux

Command (m for help): w
root@uilleann  #

The fdisk -l command will list the partitions on your drives. No changes will take place with fdisk when you exit with the q. The changes won't be written to the disk unless you exit with the command w.

Can you adapt that for your drive setup OK ?

Task · 07-16-2003, 03:12 PM

OMG that helped so much. You posting step-by-step what to do, and what I should expect to see helps so much. Thanks a bunch!

fancypiper · 07-16-2003, 03:27 PM

I forgot to post the Mandrake links!

# Mandrake links
Mandrake home page
Mandrake Users website
Easy urpmi config for Mandrake
urpmi mini-HOWTO
Easy software management: Red Carpet
Maximum RPM
rpmfind
You didn't install the developmental packages? As root, command:
urpmi gcc
An Introduction to the Midnight Commander. You can install it by commanding:
urpmi mc
Midnight Commander home page