ok how should i do this?

currently I have a pc with a 40g drive running system commander, partion magic, dos6,w98se,w2k&wxp i would like to add linux redhat.
the drive currently is configued>>>
2g primary for dos
4g primary for w98se
15g logical for misc apps
6 g logical for w2k
11 logical g for wxp

the reason i have so many os is because of specific apps

I have been experimenting with linux abit and would like to add it to this machine

sugestions please

note the specs below are for a completely differant PC
the machine in question is an asus a7v classic 512mb ram 40x acer cd-rom, lite-on dvd, cyberdrive 32/12/48 cdrw, zip250,sbpci128,nvidia gf2mx200 64mb,conaxent pci 56k pci modem, realtek 8139 NIC, hp952printer, scanport sq2030 scanner and multi usb card readers and handspring PDA

[QUOTE]Originally posted by smtoughill
[B]ok how should i do this?

currently I have a pc with a 40g drive running system commander, partion magic, dos6,w98se,w2k&wxp i would like to add linux redhat.

..
i'm running 3 os's right now configured through system commander. w2k, redhat 8, mandrake 9. all partitioned on a single 40Gb HDD.

although I'm not trying to run as much as you... here's what i'd try.

use partition magic to reduce the size of your largest partition....and just leave it empty. after it reboots windows it'll do all the config for you.

when you go to install redhat, you get to the screen where you pick a partition. i'd use disk druid, and you get to see the "free" space you just created with partition magic. set it up how you want, and make sure you create another partition as a swap.
**remember which one it formats as the swap, and which one is formatted as the ext3. (ie.../hda5 /hda7 whatever) - you'll need it to configure the boot loader.

when it asks about the boot loader (i assume you're using system commander for all your OS's), make sure select the option to use advanced configuration. the next screen should ask where to install the boot loader. select the one that represents your ext3 partition for redhat. do *not* let it install itself to the main MBR of your drive.

after this, let it finish and reboot. it should be in your system commander list (system commander should be able to see the boot loader installed in the first sector of your ext3 partition.)

good luck.

thanx can linux be installed on a second hd instead?

Absolutely. The same installation parameters apply, just install a boot loader on the bootsector (not MBR) of your second hard drive.