Well I have been using Mandrake 10 for a while but it's been giving me so many headaches that I wanted to look for a new distro. Slackware seemed like the right choice for me.

I am not a Linux n00b. Even though I did use Mandrake I had to do a lot of stuff to get my Wireless card to work(learn how to use the command line, use GCC, modify config files, compile a new kernel and a lot of other low level stuff). I have been reading up a lot on Slackware and I am pretty sure I want to go through with it. So I am asking you guys for some first hand advice on the installation so I don't screw things up.

Another thing, I have my hard drive already partitioned into: Windows Parition, Linux Root, Linux Home, and Linux Swap. I want to keep the current settings without losing much data in my Linux Home and Windows paritions. Can I have the Slackware installation just format my Root partition and leave everything else alone?

Yes, that should work fine. The Slackware install is all text based though... much different from MDK...

My recommendation for the install though is to install everything first... then...after you finish run pkgtool and remove packages that you don't want... it's much easier that way.. other than that.. It's pretty cool.. Also, maybe check out debian.. I like Debian a lot too.. use the Sarge net-inst disc...

Good Luck!

Yes, but you need to know the partition names (e.g. /dev/hda2), slackware uses fdisk or cfdisk to control partitions.

Ok so let me get this straight.

If I made my partitions using the Mandrake Installer I can have them work on Slackware if I know their names(which I do). How is this done(I have no experience with fdisk or cfdisk at all).

if the partitions are made, then you don't need to use cfdisk or fdisk. when you begin the installation it will ask you to assign the partitions and it will format them if u want...yadda yadda... but cfdisk is real super easy to use.


fyi don't underestimate slack, there are lots of things you will need to learn and do that are taken for granted in mandrake, suse, and redhat... but on the other hand it's more fun, tends to work perfect...because it doesn't really half work like the other dirstro's...it works or it doesn't...which helps...but i'm finding it to be rather difficult compiling 2.6.9 kernel and having it work, haha, almost all the bugs are out now i think though ( a full 36 houts later ) and yea the install is pretty well....bad looking, but works fine.


good luck with it.

Ok thanks. I have some more things to read up on and I'll get things rolling pretty soon. Thanks to everyone who helped.

Ok I am getting ready to install. I have a quick question. Will Slack do anything to my Windows partition or should I back it up?

Providing you don' t nuke the parition that Windows in on using fdisk. it won't harm it.
Considering your linux partitions were used once already, I would image Slack would pick it up because your Type 82 partition is your swap, which I know it will recognise right away. Your other type 83's will be the root and home partitions, which is which is only something you snould know. ;P

My advice, take your time in the install. Read the directions as you go. Keep a positive attitude. If something gets messed up.,releax. Life hasn't ended.

Well, first thing... don't even worry about using fdisk or cfdisk. Since you already have partitions for linux, you don't need to repartition the drive. When you go through the install, it will ask you where to mount the directories/partitions and you can just point the installer to the same places.

If you don't need any of the information in the existing partitions, you will probably want to re-format them and use ReiserFS, since I believe that MDK uses ext3 as default instead. Both are very viable and functional file systems though. You won't be missing something if you don't use ReiserFS, but it is a little bit quicker in some instances.

And starting off with a full install is best as long as you have the space. Although there will probably be a ton of packages you don't want or need, it is better to have them and prune back than to prune and find you don't have a package you need.

Since you have a Windows partition, you shouldn't have a problem getting back here to look up an answer, that is what this great board is all about.