LinuxQuestions.org

LinuxQuestions.org (/questions/)
-   Linux - Newbie (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/)
-   -   How to create a linux partition with Microsoft Vista (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/how-to-create-a-linux-partition-with-microsoft-vista-725656/)

Saadi 05-13-2009 05:37 AM

How to create a linux partition with Microsoft Vista
 
Hello everybody


I have a system with a single hard disk on which Windows Vista is running without problems.

Now I wish to install Linux, and I of course (if I am right) need to first create Linux partitions on the hard disk.

Up till now I used Partition Magic on previous versions of Windows (Xp, 98 etc..), but when I tried it with Vista it did not work (to be specific the system does not allow partition magic to do the job).

My question is, how should I proceed to create a linux partion with vista being installed?

Many thanks in advance.
Saadi

bhaslinux 05-13-2009 06:16 AM

1. you need space in the harddisk (unpartitioned space)
2. You can create a raw partition in vista
3. boot into linux/partition magic and change the type of the partition as linux


There were difficulties long back to install linux but now-a-days the linux installs of almost
all distros are very easy and you can install linux without damaging the vista partition. All
you need is to use vista to shrink and get some space in the disk for creating a new parition

If you are not interested to do this ... consider wubi. wubi is installing ubuntu on windows
which will not need partitioning !

malekmustaq 05-13-2009 06:35 AM

Saadi:

You said: "Up till now I used Partition Magic on previous versions of Windows (Xp, 98 etc..), but when I tried it with Vista it did not work (to be specific the system does not allow partition magic to do the job)."

Clue:

You do not need Vista in order to create Linux partition nor need it for linux installation.

What you need is a Linux installer CD or Gparted CD in order to prepare a partition for Linux. Best way is to get, download and burn, a Gnu/Linux distribution Cd image: try Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, SuSe, whatever you like: these installer CD's are equipped to "format" or "prepare" your disks for Gnu/Linux installation.

BY THE WAY, today almost all Gnu/Linux installer CDs are BOOTABLE, this means, you will boot from the CD drive and proceed to work with the hard drive to prepare your Linux partitions.

Beware: Take note of your Vista partition (the partition where Vista system runs) so that you will not accidentally format it. Just note down the Sector Numbers covering the vista partition.

Along the disk preparation, create a partition for Linux AT THE FREE SPACE, so that you are sure Vista is not disturbed.

Linux runs on many partition formats: ext2, ext3, Raiserfs and also you need to format a little about 500mb for SWAP space.

Having installed Linux, you may dual boot it and vista by your choice at a time.

BEST AND SUREST way to have a smooth Gnu/Linux experience is to read a good tutorial first. Download the tutorial link I put hereunder my signature; also, there are available tutorial websites, and CD documentations, which you profit much by reading them.

If you give enough time to read tutorials you will save yourself from more troubles ahead, and you sure will enjoy this exciting experience.

Hope this helps.

Goodluck.

Maleki Mustaqiim Kalifah ibn Faisal

syg00 05-13-2009 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saadi (Post 3539222)
... how should I proceed to create a linux partion with vista being installed?

Don't even bother.
Use the Vista disk manager (?) to reduce the size of the Vista partition, and leave the space unallocated. Don't attempt to create a partition or filesystem on the freed space. The Linux installer can be instructed to use that space.

onebuck 05-13-2009 07:00 AM

Hi,

I would suggest that you do a defragment on the hdd before you re-size the partition with the 'M$ disk management tools', note that the defragment is part of the 'M$ disk management tools'.

Once that is done then you can use the GNU/Linux tools to create and prepare the Linux install partition(s) on the re-sized hdd.

schneidz 05-13-2009 11:11 AM

^ as mentioned above, i usually install windows first and then do a defrag from within windows.
(this is to make all the files in continuous space towards the beginning of the drive instead of interspersed thruoghout the drive)

download a linux image of your choice (for me it would be fedora live-usb) set your computer to boot from the usb first (or from cd if you burned the iso image to a cd).

when the live system starts up, double-click on the 'install to harddrive' icon on the desktop.

click next a few times and pay special attention to the screen that talks about partitioning.

it should automatically identify windows is already installed and wont touch it (unless you specify it to do so) and it should set up the grub boot loader with a menu item for windows so you can select it or another operating system at boot (duel boot).

saikee 05-13-2009 12:19 PM

For those who do not use Vista please note syg00's suggestion is highly relevant.

Vista keeps a record of the partition table and checks it in every boot. Depending how the system is configured it is not a straight forward case of running it with Gparted to resize its partition. Gparted would have no problem on Xp or Win2k but Vista and Win7 are a different animal. It will refuse to boot if it finds the partition layout different from its own record.

Starting with Vista M$ provides a resizer inside its disk management program. This resizer guarantees by M$ on all partitions it supports. Not only it is fastest but also the safest. For once select the better one from the tools available.

The partition type needed by Linux is 83 where a swap is Type 82. These cannot be created in Vista that does not support Linux. The resizer only change the Vista partition boundary to make available unallocated space. Every Live CD has a host of partitioning tools like fdisk, sfdisk, cfdisk and Parted, in additional to the graphic tools. So it is far better to use a Linux Live CD to create the necessary partitions before the installation. That way a user knows exactly where he/she instalsl the Linux and be aware of the device names used in Linux.

abdoh 05-13-2009 02:23 PM

Great Saikee . your links above are of so many benefits.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:56 AM.