Hey guys. I have a question...


I have about 14 gigs free on a Windows XP (NTFS) drive. I want to use about 10 of that for Linux. The problem is, I can only get 72 megs (!) using Mandrake 9.1 DRAK or whatever it's called, and it won't let me use anymore. I also can't shrink down my Windows partition, even though I know I can. Should I defrag the damn thing, and then try it? That's gonna take yea=rs on an 80 gig hd...


Any advice?

I really want to get this done tonight, as I have work tomorrow, and it's already almost 9 o'clockpm...

1. Since you have a 80 GB drive and you probably are installing Mandrake at the end of it it might not boot later.
2. The partition type is NTFS so you cannot resize the parition you will loose data unless you use some very efficient paritioning tool. Don't try this with your mandrake diskdrake or fdisk you may end up loosing all your data.
3. There are 2 solutions
a. Get an old system and install Mandrake on it
b. Try resizing the paritions by reinstalling XP.


However you do it. If you succed please reply and tell how you did it

Thanks...


Is there a way to reinstall xp without losing all my data?

As far as I can think off the only way out is to move all your important data to another partition where you have sufficient space and then take the plunge which is also the much safer option then trying to save your data while changing the partition size and reinstalling the OS

There's always the Partition Magic way.... I don't trust the program but it has been known to do the job (if you read the manual). It should IF everything goes well be able to change the size of the partition, split it, format, change to FAT32 aso...

PS never hurry these things; that's when things fuck up!

hey guys,
I am trying/thinking of doing the same think... I have an 80 GIG HDD and about 40 Gigs are used up by my XP and other files. I will be using Partition Magic and my actual question is what would the partition type be for Linux install? (98 is Fat32, XP is NTFS, what about Mandrake?) Would Partition Magic be able to do the trick? Pls. write back at japple91@hotmail.com or just post more replys. Thanks all. I am also planning on dedicating about 15 Gigs for the Mandrake install.

Use partition magic to resize and then leave what you want Linux to use empty, unpartitioned. When you install just tell it to 'use free space'. It will have to set the mount points anyway and this will be much easier.

Good luck. . . . .