do i need to format

ceborame · 02-23-2005, 03:35 AM

hi I am wanting to run a dual boot system ( xp/ mandrake)

I have a drive that I just use for storage, it is not partitioned.

XP runs on its own seperate drive.

Do I need to format my storage drive, and lose the data already on there (which I don't want to do) , so I can install mandrake on this drive.

Regards

JSpired · 02-23-2005, 03:37 AM

No, Mandrake can do that for you.

perfect_circle · 02-23-2005, 03:41 AM

Quote:

I have a drive that I just use for storage, it is not partitioned.

By this you probably mean the whole drive has only one big partition.
There is no way to have stored data in a drive that is not partitioned

ceborame · 02-23-2005, 03:42 AM

Thank you

How will mandrake sit on this drive, will it create its own partition ?

regards

c

ceborame · 02-23-2005, 03:44 AM

I thought partitioning was splitting a drive into several areas ?

it is formatted; but not partitioned

JSpired · 02-23-2005, 03:46 AM

Technically, it is partitioned into one big drive. Mandrake will allow you to resize that partition, saving your original data, which I understand is your intent.

ceborame · 02-23-2005, 03:49 AM

yeah thats what I want to do thanks v much

syg00 · 02-23-2005, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ceborame
it is formatted; but not partitioned

It must be both to be usable. Try the following definition;
"(computer science) the part of a hard disk that is dedicated to a particular operating system or application and accessed as a single unit".

Good enough for now.

Do *NOT* attempt a resizing without taking a backup first.

ceborame · 02-23-2005, 04:04 AM

Is bashing newbies a pleasurable pastime for some of you people.

I think you all know what I meant and what I am trying to do !

tut

perfect_circle · 02-23-2005, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by syg00
It must be both to be usable. Try the following definition;
"(computer science) the part of a hard disk that is dedicated to a particular operating system or application and accessed as a single unit".

Good enough for now.

Do *NOT* attempt a resizing without taking a backup first.

I only agree with the second part of the definition: and accessed as a single unit
A partition does not have to be dedicated to a particular operating system or application.

Quote:

I thought partitioning was splitting a drive into several areas ?
it is formatted; but not partitioned

No when you buy a hard disk, you cannot format it. first you use fdisk or any other program to create a partition table. The partition table may contain only one primary partition (the hole drive). Then you format the partition(s), which means create a filesystem in the drive.
In Unix/Linux language the hard drive is a device like hda. The first patition is hda1. You need both to make a hard drive usable. You don't mount or format hda (the drive), you mount format hda1 (the partition)

syg00 · 02-23-2005, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ceborame
Is bashing newbies a pleasurable pastime for some of you people.

I responded civilly to your query - I won't bother again.

Quote:

I think you all know what I meant and what I am trying to do !

You asked and were answered - with an attitiude like that, personally I no longer care.

mjjzf · 02-23-2005, 05:24 AM

Actually, I think it raised some good points for later use. Knowledge is never wasted.
But yes, the Mandy installer can create a partition from unused space.