Question about un-partitioning Win XP from Linux

CoffeehouseSchmuck · 07-17-2006, 02:26 PM

when i bought this Laptop it was Windows XP only
then i dual- partitioned my hard drive with XP and SuSE 10.0,now i want to remove XP and replace it with Debian so this laptop will be 50% SuSE and 50 % Debian
what is the easiest /safest way to do it?
will Linux even work after i unmount XP from hda1?

Matir · 07-17-2006, 02:30 PM

Linux won't care if you delete XP. (It might even throw you a party.. j/k)

The best way, IMHO, is to backup all your data (just in case, this should be non-destructive) and then just run the debian installer and select "manual partitioning", delete the XP partition, and replace it with a Linux partition.

You can even share a swap partition between distros, unless you intend to use suspend to disk or anything similar. (In which case, booting the other distro would blow away your suspend data)

CoffeehouseSchmuck · 07-17-2006, 02:48 PM

thanks......
so what you are saying is Put the Debian disk in tell it to delete XP and Add Debian all in one shot right?

The are 2 more issues
1.these is some software i have to see if Linux can handle like my Win Usb PVR which is an external hard drive recorder which records streams,line level,cable tv,satalite

when its all said and done my 4 pcs will be
1.dual boot SuSe 10.0(gnome) and debian
2.SuSE 10.0 (KDE)
3.Mandriva (IceWm)
4.MacMini(buying in august)

I also have live disks of Knoppix,Ubuntuu,and Dynebolic linux