Ubuntu's partitioning tool
 

I downloaded the alternate cd-install for AMD, and am getting ready to install. I went through the partitioning steps up to the point where it would apply my changes, but backed out because I got this Warning message:

"This will destroy all data on any partitons you have removed as well as on the partitions that are going to be formatted."

Really? Then how would I possibly get Ubuntu and Windows to peacefully co-exists on my machine? :-)

Here's what I did: I went through the partitioing and removed all mount points for all of my windows partions, and only left the partition for /boot, /, and swap. I told it to format only swap. But the above warning scared me... I have already prepared my disk and partitions, I only want to install Ubuntu exactly where I want it. Is this possible?

You can let Ubuntu format your Linux partitions without messing up your Windows partition. Just don't select your Windows partition for formatting. But, yes, you can install Ubuntu on an already formatted partition but its not advisable.

~Justin

Assuming the Ubuntu installer is still based on the Debian installer, it will list exactly which partitions it will reformat underneath that warning message. Typically, this will be at least the "/" partition and the swap partition.

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/partitioning.html might have the information that you are looking for.

Or possibly, you might feel safer using a windows partitioning tool, like partition manager (but you have to buy that one) or you might look at the freeware partitioning tool from "Ranish".

That way, you could do something like modify the windows partition, and then make the partitions to put linux into - I would suggest 4, one for /boot, one for /swap, one for / and the last for /home - it's up to you if you make them primary or logical (as theres 4 you'd have to make at least some of them logical).

Or failing that, you might also consider an additional hard drive, so as to keep your OS's completely seperate. The only thing being that you would still normally have the bootloader on the first section of the first hard drive (even if thats the windows one) and let it overwrite the windows MBR (major boot record) then it can see all of the installed OS's and offer you the choice of what you want to boot.

Hope that helps.

regards

John

That was a good read at the psychocats link, thanks!

I already have my partitions all laid out. All I want is for Ubuntu to set the mount points. I don't even want to touch the windows partitions at all, not until I can go in myself and edit fstab.

It's just that that warning threw me: "This will destroy all data on any partitons you have removed"... that I have removed? What does that mean?

If you've told the partitioner to delete any partitions, then they'll get deleted after you give the confirmation at that screen. If you're not sure if you've marked any partitions for deletion, then you haven't marked any for deletion.

In particular, removing or changing the "mount point" for a partition does NOT mark it for deletion.

By default, any partitions with system mount points should be reformated. You typically do NOT want to have the option "No, keep the existing data" for your system partitions (like "/").

Ok, that's some reassurance then. :-)
One more question before I take the plunge:

I have WinXP on my first partition.
On my second partition, I have set up an ext3 filesystem ready for /boot, and have made it my active bootable partition. (Of course, it doesn't boot yet, because I haven't intalled yet!)
If I use the Alternate-install cd, how would I tell it to install Grub there?

And just out curiosity, default-wise, where would the Desktop installation cd put Grub? Will it still overwrite my WinXP MBR, even though that is not the active boot partition?

The boot flag is meaningless - for everything except M$ofts mindless loader.
I'd suggest you leave it on the XP partition (only) - Vista upgrade will require it no doubt.
As for grub, it will install to the /boot mountpoint.
You might get an option for grub not to overwrite the MBR (I can't remember), but I expect it would overwrite by default. If it didn't, most people wouldn't know how to boot it.