General questions on Mandrake 8.1 installation
 

Hi,

I've just ordered a new computer which will come with windows XP on a 80 GB hard drive. I would like to set up a dual boot system and install Mandrake 8.1 next to XP. The thing is, I have never even seen Linux so I've surfed around to get some information on how to do this... and I have a couple of basic questions.

1. What's the best/easiest way to set up the partitions? Some people write one should use Partition Magic, but I saw a tutorial on Mandrake's site where it seems like the installation program does everything for you, i. e. shrink the Windows partition and create the linux partitions. What would you recommend?

2. With 512 MB RAM how big should the SWAP partition be?

3. Is it true that with Mandrake 8.1 I don't need to bother about the 1024 cylinder problem ?

4. Is the Sam's book on Mandrake any good?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!

Anna :)

1. You could try using their tool.. I think most would say Partition Magic would do a better job. If you want full control, I usually reinstall everything, starting with Windows and then Linux... making my own partitions with fdisk or whatever...
2. you should do fine with a 100 to 125 meg swap..
3. you shouldn't have to worry about it..
4. never read the sams book on mandrake.. but i like any other book i have read from their press.. so it should be ok...

1. if XP is preinstalled, then mandrake will shrink it for you. but you want to make sure (well.. if you want to...) that yuor XP is using FAT32 and not NTFS, as NTFS has very limited support under linux, whereas FAT32 is fully supported on linux, meanignn you can easily access anything on the windows partitions from within linux.

2. swap... erm... well it's up to you really.. with 80gb to throw around i guess you wouldn't miss 300mb, but you're very unlikely to actually use it, unless you get VERY intensive on linux. so yeah, i'd say 300 tops. you could do without tho if you want to.

3. correct.

4. ahh no idea... I wouldn't really go for a distro specific book first off, go for the best one you can find. the differences between redhat and mandrake are pretty subtle really, and there are many more redhat books around, so chances are you'll finnd onje that suits you better.

Thanks!
 

Hey,

thank you so much for the quick answers!

:) Anna