I'm planning to install debian on top of WinXP and Slackware. (really curious about apt-get and I want to learn GRUB in the process)

This is my current setup

/dev/hda6 swap 512MB
/dev/hda7 / reiserfs 15GB (slack10 K2.6.7)
/dev/hda8 /home reiserfs 5GB
/dev/hda1 /hda1 ntfs 40GB (winxp) (lots of games)
/dev/hda5 /hda5 vfat 20GB (option 1)
/dev/hdb1 /hdb1 vfat 20GB (option 2)
/dev/hdb5 /hdb5 vfat 20 GB

I plan to change one of the vfat partitions to probably another reiserfs (or whatever is the default for debian) partition via cfdisk.

1. Can debian and slack share the same /swap?

2. In your opinion will it be easier if I install on /hdb1? If so, where do I install GRUB? On the MBR of /dev/hda ?

3. Will I need a separate /home partition? (probably I guess)

4. Do I need to make a /boot partition? Can slack and deb share it?

5. If you think I should just reformat /hda. Which order should I install so it will be easier? WinXP > Slack > Deb or WinXP > Deb > Slack. ( I can actually afford to make a clean install of slack if the need arises )

6. Can I use GRUB to point to LILO?

7. The installer I have in hand is Debian 3or1 stable, can I use this and just apt-get to the latest unstable/current release?

Hi,
Such a good idea,
1 yes they can share swap
2 you can install grub on mbr hda1 and add to /booot/grub/menu.lst some entry to choose at boot time either slack, Débian or win
3 home partition can be shared but it's a little complicated for install
4 you don't need a boot partition it can stay in /
5 in modern times, you don't need to destroy to built again : )
6 i think grub is easier so why would you still use lilo?
7 I dearly suggest to download from here http://www.nl.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/ and install with it. It's sarge the would be stable release.

The installer is quite simple. It wille show your partition to choose the target and propose every option. You can install with home and add your actual home in the fstab later. I favor instalation with only two patition for home use one / and one /home so you don't loose config if system crash.

Have a nice try : ) Marc A

Hey thanks.

I'm reading the documentation now. Will download and see what happens.

The installer is definitely better looking and I like the interface.

However, it didn't recognize any of the operating systems, both WinXp and Slack 10. So I didn't let GRUB write to the MBR and just cancelled the install.

Will try again I guess.

Hi,

I think it's normal. Installer just recognise partition. Only the setting-up of grub search partition to find boot systems. Anyway you can add systems to boot if they are not . Just read a little about grub and edit /boot/grub/menu.lst
It gives something like:
...
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
or
title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.6.6-1-k7
root (hd0,5)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.6-1-k7 root=/dev/hda7 ro
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.6-1-k7
savedefault
boot
Nearly all automatic ; )

Marc A newbie

thanks Marc A

Im trying to get the 1st iso of debian sarge. Will start from there I guess.
I read this post and I might encounter the same problem so will try to get the disc1 iso first.

Wow, finally got to install the sarge debian base system, and got ppp working properly
First time I got to use apt-get and I got lynx, and I'm using it right now.
Just added my other distros to grub.

It seems that if don't use a partition with an OS during the install, the installer actually is able to add that to the GRUB config. If I do use the partition and give it a mount point, it won't be included in menu.lst.

But anyway I'm happy with the base install for now.

This site looks weird in txt mode. Actually all the sites look weird in text mode