No absolute certainties -- that's what backups are for. No one can guarantee there won't be a power failure during the process. If you are really worried, you could go to the extent of doing the backup to a separate disk, checking that it -- the backup disk -- will boot, & doing the rest of the install with the backup disk out of the computer. In this case, you might want to make the backup Step 1.

However, if you follow the steps, everything should be fine. (I've done 20-50 of these in the last year.)
Here is the re-ordered, combined list:[list=1][*]Clean up. (optional)[*]Run "chkdsk /f".[*]Run "defrag".[*]Backup partition.[*]Resize partition.[*]Redistribute free space.[*]Finish, i.e. install FC. (fedora will automatically partition free space)[/list=1]

I've been having trouble with my floppy disks recently (either none of the ones I have are having problems, or else my floppy disk drive is having some kind of problems)... but how would I make one of these disks anyway?

I've downloaded and burned Fedora Core 4 now, so I can install it tonight perhaps if it will work....

I've backed up (uploaded to my server) a zip of my important files.. basically just some games I've been working on (developing/programming)...

So does that screenshot look right? I just need to resize my Windows partition free space (PartitionMagic does it and requires I restart and it will do the resizing during the restart I assume), and then I will still (automatically) boot into Windows, right?, until I installed Fedora Core 4?

Caveat: I don't know PQ PM 8 at all! See ( post #12).

Assuming you mean the screen shot http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9893/screen36fd.jpg, I think it would work as is. The only change I would make is to not format "I:" -- I would leave the Extended Partition as free space. Then you you could let the distro's installer use the free space as it likes, assuming that is an available option. Even if you wind up using a GNU/Linux partitioning tool, you will still save a step or 2.

I tried resizing the partition, and PartitionMagic ran into an error... so now (after that) I'm taking your advice: I've done chkdsk /f, and now I'm defragmenting.

If it still boots, you're lucky. Last year I trashed 4 (nearly identical) student computers trying to re-size to add SimplyMEPIS. At that time I had no idea about chkdsk /f and defragmenting.

Defragging could take a looooong time...... it's been going for I think almost two hours and it looks like it's not even quite a third done.

That's why I have people do it before they come in for an install.

Ok, I have resized my Windows partition, now I just need to install Fedora Core 4. I think I have around 10-16 GB or so unallocated to install FC4 upon.. and I have 16 GB free space left on Windows... 80 GB drive total.

Please let me know of any last-minute details: things I should know about before I pop in the FC4 installation cd's. Tell me anything-- act as if I'm completely new to this (though I've installed Red Hat 9 once in an easier scenario where I installed it onto the whole drive). One thing: Berticus told me to have FC4's installer Automatically partition the unallocated free space-- is he right, or do I need to set it up manually partition it?

Also-- after I install FC4, FC4 should be the default booting OS, right, instead of Win2k? And how do I go about setting up Grub so I can (in a graphical environment, preferably-- maybe it would look like a login screen or something to that nature) choose to boot either Win2k or FC4? I want to have this choice every time I turn my computer on.

Thanks very much for all of the help so far, you guys!

Installed!

Thanks again for all the help.

I'll be honest: the other name I was posting from (pxumsgdxpcvjm) was from BugMeNot.com. I originally logged in so I could quickly bump the topic that one time. Now that I've seen how helpful and well-maintained the forums are, I've decided to register and I'll probably be posting more to help people out and maybe ask some more questions, and to add to discussions of course.

So now I'm on Fedora Core 4.. nice! I just need to make sure Grub works fine (I set it up during FC4 installation and I think it will work but not sure), and need to figure out how to access my Windows files from Linux.

Looking forward to my second trip of Linux.

I believe a polite e-mail to Jeremy can result in your old name being changed to your new one.

"Archtoad" is actually a title dating back to my cycling days in the 60's (19, not 18 ) I am the 6th in the line of succession (probably since died out). When I originally registered my bad memory recalled "5". When I checked w/ sources & discovered my error, Jeremy was kind enough to fix my mistake.

Glad everything work out.

That's cool, but the name was public so there were posts before I logged in and stuff.

edit: argh, forgot to log into my new name on Windows.

There...

I think that's what I meant -- all my old posts turned up w/ my new name.

lol, I mean the name was a public name other users had posted with. Check out www.bugmenot.com and you'll see what I mean.

Ah ha, went to www.bugmenot.com & now I understand.

A Q: Why use a bogus/public login on a help form? It seems to me to be one thing when dealing w/ the NY or LA Times, but a completely different one here. With commercial media, it is probable that the purpose of registration is the collection of demographic data; but on a help site, I think it's more about membership & controlling flamers & trolls. Personally, I expect that even under the mask of a screen name that people here are who they are & not a different person from day to day. With all the privacy guards & levels, I don't see the problem w/ registering.