Red Hat Linux 9 Installation Info
 

I am a newbie, so be gentle
I have Windows XP currently running on my Desktop. The HD has 3 partitions, C:, D: & E: each approx. 40MB w/C: being the bootable one. I tried installing Red Hat Linux 9. It would not recognize my other parititions saying could not find /root....
It did recognize the C: drive and installed Linux on it. GRUB also gives me an option to select Windows as my Default OS in the boot loader. AFter installation, when rebooting, if I select Windows as the option to boot from, it gives me an error saying unrecognized sector etc.I am unsure if Linux overwrote my existing Windows partition during installation. However booting via Linux works fine. Can somebody shed some more light as to what would be the best way to install Linux 9 on a dual OS. I have the 3 .iso CDs and am more than willing to reinstall it. Please guide this blind bat.

Re: Red Hat Linux 9 Installation Info
 

Sounds like you overwrote Windows with Linux. I'm proud of you! :D Just dive right into Linux...

I am new to Linux and would love to dive in but just not yet. I can't even get it properly installed least drown my self in it. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thnx

Well I would say Crashed is right...you blew windoze away.

With a dual boot system you need to install XP and blow away all other os's partitions (for the easiest route) and then resize your ntfs partition. I use Partition Magic. Make the unallocated space as large as you are will ing to go. And then put the linux cd in and boot. When you get to the partitioning part of the install select: Leave all partitions and use all unused space (or something to that effect). Let grub write to your mbr and select XP as your primary boot...post back if you get stuck.

just out of curiosity why do you have 3 partitions all under 100mb? i only ask as im curios as to why not just have one bigger patition.

Thanks for the feedback. Any freeware for partitioning HD. I will try and get back if I need additional help.

There are a couple of opensource/free software alternatives...I just never used them. try googleing ntfs resizer (I believe that is name) also search this forum, it is a frequent topic.

Good Luck!!

I reinstalled WinXP with only one partition. Deleted the remaining 2 partitions. I booted from the CD Rom drive to install RH 9.
Installation Type: Personal Desktop
Automatic Partitioning selected
Selected keep all partitions and use exisiting free space
Error: Could not allocate requested partitions:
Partitioning failed: Could not allocate partitions as primary
partitions.
You have not defined a root partition (/), which is required
for installation of Red Hat Linux to continue........
Alternative:
-------------
Manually partition w Disk Druid
Under Hard Drives it shows:
\Device Type Size Start End
(MB)
/dev/hda
/dev/hda1 ntfs 11463 1 14592
Free Free space 8 14593 14593

Selected /dev/hda1 and clicked New
Mount Point: / selected
File Sys Type: ext3
Size(MB): 40000
Fixed Size option selected
OK

Error: Could not allocate requested partitions: Partitioning failed: Could not allocate partitions as primary partitions.

So I select: Force to be a primary partition. Gives me the same error

Getting frustrated. Is really installing dual boot Linux that difficult? I am sure this forum has enough skilled pros who can guide me to fix this simple dilemma. Please help........

Was checking on the RH Website, it states that RH will not recognize the NTFS file system. I need to use VFAT. However my XP CD when installing uses NTFS as the only file system. It is possible to create parition when installing XP and reformat the other partition using dos command. Please advise. Thnx

That must have been for an older version of RedHat. The installer should recognize your ntfs partition and label it as DOS by default.

What I would suggest is to install XP as you normally would and then find a copy of partition magic to split up your drive.

The version is new recently downloaded off redhat.com Do I need to use Partition Magic even if XP can creat partitions during installation?

Well I'm not too familiar with the XP install's partitioning tool. If it can partition the drive so that it creates a partition that XP will not need then yes you can. If it partitions the drive so that all the registry files or whatever are on the D: drive rather then C: then installing Linux on D: would be fatal to XP.

Update: Got it to work finally. Everyboyd, Thanks for all your help. How do I connect to the Internet.

For future reference, you can just use XP's partitioning, I have done several duel boots with redhat 7.1 and above and when I install xp I do a normal install but I leave about 5 gig's unused then when I am done with the xp install I do a redhat install and just tell it to use the free space as was mentioned above.

This has worked great for me several times, in fact I am starting another windows user on the path to enlightenment today :-) My Fiance's brother has been begging me to install a duel boot for him so I am doing that today, I think he will be a convert in not to long :-)