Hi LinuxQuestions(dot)org

I am newbie to Linux and this is my first post

Need some suggestions regarding Installation of the Linux Ubuntu 7.04.

System:

Processor : AMD Athlon(tm)64 Processor 3200+(2.01GHz)
Motherboard : ASUS
RAM : 1GB
OS : Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version 2002 SP2
HDD : SATA 120GB with

Winxp sp2 C:\ NTFS 20GB 10GB(Free) Primary
NO OS D:\ NTFS 25GB 25GB(Free) Extended(log)
NO OS E:\ NTFS 25GB 3.5GB(Free) Extended(log)
NO OS F:\ NTFS 43GB 1.5GB(Free) Extended(log)

Floppy : A:\ 3(1/2)Sony
CD/DVD-RW : G:\ Dual layer DVD-RW

So yestarday i started installation but i aborted since i was not sure of partitioning my HDD.

Tell me if i am correct :
In my system if i create a 2 more primary space for SWAP & Linux ext3 and leave the other drives as they are.
suppose i have create ...
C:\ No modifications (same as above) NTFS Primary
(*) LINUX SWAP 2GB Primary
D:\ UBUNTU 10GB ext3 Primary
E:\ No Modification NTFS Extended(log)
F:\ No Modification NTFS Extended(log)
H:\ New Volume 13GB NTFS Extended(log)

Q) Here i have question should that SWAP space after D:\ Ubuntu (where ubuntu will come) or its correct.

Q) Also i wanted to access the whole HDD while running Ubuntu and aslo Win xp. Does this needs an extra drive(space?) and File system(FAT32).

Q) What i have to do to dual boot Win Xp and Ubuntu as winxp is running right now.

From last 2 days was researched on those things and really gone mad.
Really i dont want to lose my HDD.

Thanx.

Linux doesn't use drive letters such as Windows does. It uses paths instead... (ie: /, /home, etc..)

If you have a single hard drive installed, when going through the install process, Ubuntu will try and make an educated guess and use what free spaces you have left. It will see your current windows drives and map those for you, it will then make room for a swap partition, and then most likely either resize your current setup to make room, or use the unused space to install.

What I usually will do is prepare a partition ahead of time just for a Linux install. (for instance, on a 120GB drive, I will install WindowsXP on C: with say 40GB for the OS. I will then make a second partition for Data (ie: D with say, oh 60GB. I will then make a third partition but leave it unformatted with the remainder of the drive. This unformatted partition I will set aside for Linux.

When going through the installer, Ubuntu should see this unformatted partition and select it for use. It will set up part of it for swap space, and then the rest will be used for the OS install. It will then map the two Windows partitions for you (under /media I believe) so you can still access your Windows data under Linux.

I believe if you just use the Guided mode, you should be fine...

(I always use the manual mode, but I tend to map out my installs before hand and know exactly where I want to put things. I tend to have a partition set aside for my /home just in case of an OS breakage issue, I can re-install without losing my personal files and settings...)

**You can also install an Ext2FS driver for Windows which will give you native support under windows for accessing your Linux partitions as well... You can find the driver at this link: http://sourceforge.net/projects/ext2fsd

Thanx ssarasin for your valuable info.

Ubuntu 7.04
Gona do the Manual Mode. So just tell the final things that i require will the system boot in dual mode. or i have to use some s/w like Acronis Partition, g4u etc...

Thanx