Configuring Red Hat 7.2/ Windows XP dual boot
 

I am trying to get Red hat 7.2 and Windows XP pro to reside on the same HDD using Partition Magic 8. My system is super fast for
gaming. I need to keep XP for my wife to use, until I get another
PC for her. I have a Seagate 80GB hard drive, and I used PM to create a linux partition. I also created the swap file partition. On
my first attempt , I created a 25000MB pt for Linux and then a 500
MB swap file partition. I placed the swap file pt to the front of the
drive and the linux pt after the hidden NTFS pt. I rebooted the PC and let PT magic do it's thing. I then made sure that the Linux pt
was active by using the boot magic floppy. I changed the boot order in my BIOS to boot from CD. I put in the Red Hat disc 1, and got to the setup screen. The problem I am having is that I can only choose the automatic format. PT Magic says not to use the Disk Druid or manually partition the drive. No matter what I do I can't get linux to recognize the partitions I made for it. What can I do? I really want to use Linux ,but can't afford to buy another HDD. Can this be done? I need help. When I become more familiar
with Linux, I am going to totally dump windows, but until then, I need both.

Hi

I made certain assumptions from ur post
1) pt-> partittion
2) U have ntfs partitions ( do u realy need this for a home pc ??)

I dont know these facts

Which version of redhat are u trying to install ?

Are u not able to select "format partitions manually with disk druid
from the setup ?

How does parttion magic say that
not to use the Disk Druid or manually partition the drive.?? when u r in the setup of linux.. plz clarify more.. iwill be able to help.


Try the latest release of redhat (8.) it s cool and less troublesome.

Switch to expert installation mode during linux:, type linux expert then hit return.

Do I do so when the format options dialog box pops up?

No, during the initial screen where Red Hat lets you pick options, such as text or expert. The program stops at this point and asks you to either enter an argument or hit return for the default.

I don't understand what you are doing that you aren't getting the option to review Red Hat's proposed changes. I've installed 7.2 several times and always been presented the option of reviewing/changing Disk Druid's proposed configuration. That is what you want.

I have two other suggestions for you. The first is to undo some of the Partition Magic things you did. Been there, done that and got the tee shirt! Delete the Linux partitions you added and let Disk Druid encounter the empty space. PM does great with Windows partitions but I've never been satisfied with its performance with Linux ones. Deadbug's partition rule: Let the operating system do its own partitioning!

Suggestion 2 is overcoming a problem with RH 7.2. Many times after it is installed, the CD-ROM stops functioning. If this happens, open a terminal shell, log on as root and issue this command:

depmod -ae

That will reset the dependencies and fix the problem with the CD-ROM.

Good luck.

If you are upgrading a distro under Redhat 8, there is no question been asked for formatting harddrive when you choose normal installation during startup.

That is because an upgrade uses your current configuration. If you install the program, it does make the offer--even in RH 8.0 (that is what I'm writing this from).

Bingo!

Well, I loaded Redhat 8.0 Today (not sure if it's diff from 7.2 in this way), and I used Paragon Partition Manager in windows to resize it. make sure Windows XP is installed first. After that, then you need to create a partition from what's left.

Next up start installing Redhat, once you get to the paritioning part, use disk druid, setup your swap, and the size of your main linux partition, set Linux as the primary, and use GRUB as the boot manager, it will allow you to choose which OS to you...worked perfect for me....:D

That was what happened to me some time ago... smooth....

it is good programm