I am new in the Linux world. I have XP Pro installed on my desktop. I want to install Mandrake 9.0 as well so that I can dual boot both OSes.

While I am trying to install Mandrake 9.0, I get stuck at partitioning question. I am not using Partition Magic program because someone told me that Mandrake 9.0 can be installed with exisiting Windows.

I am not familiar with the lingos of Linux, therefore, I am somewhat cautious. I do not want to erase my XP (too much stuff there).

HELP!!! Thanks in advance.


Linux-convert-to-be

Welcome to LQ, Papias.

Does your installation of XP take up the whole of the harddisk? There certainly used to be a method of installing Mandrake within Windows, but I don't think it's included as part of the standard install CD set. If you have some spare space, then you should use that. If you don't have any spare partitions, then you'll need to boot to XP and run defrag to squeeze all of your XP data down to the beginning of the disk. Once this is done... MAKE A BACKUP and then proceed with the installation. So long as you're running XP on a FAT32 partition, you should be ok with letting Mandrake do your disk for you, but you did make a backup, so it's not a total catastrophe if it all goes pear shaped. If you're running XP on an NTFS partition, then you would be well advised to try out Partition Magic

T pretty much summed it up.

If you don't have a backup drive like cd burner/zip, RUN papias115 RUN to the store and grab one!

boot xp
defrag & scandisk thorough
backup files
if xp is ntfs, you need PM
if xp is fat, you boot Mandy CD1
choose expert
Disk Druid
resize xp vfat part
make a part for linux at least 2.5GB
mount point is /
that's it.

http://jetblackz.freeservers.com/Ins...keLinux90.html

Only one minor alteration: In Mandrake it's not DiskDruid... that's RH. it's DiskDrake. Other than that, go for it.