ok, i've just got a new machine and loaded up xp pro because i need to use windows based audio software (especially cubase sx). i'm running an intel p4 2.8c on an asus p4p800 and a ntfs s-ATA disk (is s-ATA ok for linux?).

i want to install a linux distro as a dual-boot because i'd like to learn linux but can't give up windows. and as a total noob (no unix experience either) was definitely tempted by how complete mandrake 9.1 looks.

what's the downside to using mandrake for learning (and then hopefully using!) linux compared with redhat or debian (or would you recommend a totally different one?).

i really appreciate any help,

thanks,
colm

I really like Mandrake, I switched from RH back when Mandrake 9.0 was new and hot and now I'm running 9.1 and love it.
I would recompile the kernel after you install it (before customizing it further) and tune it for your processor. It's pretty easy, lots of info on it here in the forums.
I really can't think of a downside. It's quite nice, It's not hard core geek like gentoo, but then again it's a 1 hour install and configure compared to 3-4 days for gentoo.


As far as RH or Mandrake or whatever other distro, it's all personal prefrence. I just got tired of the fubar'd way RH does things and wanted something more standardized.

sounds about right. think i'm going to go for it. i'm NOT going to make any more mistakes by assuming i'm more able than i actually am!

thanks for the response.
colm.

I use Mandrake 9.1 and it was the first Linux I had. My only advice is when you do your install try to install all the software you need. Also click to "list individual packages" and go into developement and put a check by "perl IO stringy". Some software needs that to run. I ran into that with mine. F-prot must have it. It's Linux virus software.
Also when you install, make sure you don't click on the blue part in the partition section. That is your windoze. Format that and windoze is gone.

Good luck. If you run into trouble, post. I'll help if you need it.

thanks! i've ordered mandrake 9.1 (no cd writer at the moment, still in my old machine).

so i have two questions right now!

1) when i boot up now, i have an OS menu, default being XP which is fine. the other isn't specified, it just says 'Previously installed OS' (or something meaning the same thing). If i select that OS, i eventually get a very pretty blinking cursor in the top left.... and nothing else. I installed XP pro from a non-bootable cd so used a win98 based bootdisk - is this useless OS a legacy from the install and how do i get rid of it?

2) i'm using a 120G S-ATA HD, which during the XP install i formatted as ntfs. is this a problem for the mandrake install?


thanks again!

From what I have read Linux and NTFS don't get along to well. You need to determine how much space you want for Linux or get a small, 10Gb is fine, drive for Linux. You may need Partition Magic or similar to resize the NTSF format if you don't want another drive.
I read somewhere that Linux can read NTFS but not write. You may want a small partition to transfer files between the two that is fat32. A 1 or 2Gb partition would probably be OK. Linux can read and write to fat32. FIPS may work with NTFS but I'm not sure. I don't think it will though. It will win 98 etc but I don't think it does NTFS.
I'm not sure about the 'previously installed OS' part. Did you upgrade to XP from something else?
Oh BTW, You should use ext3 when you format your drive for Linux. That will not affect your XP part, just the Linux part.

I blazed over this, so don't shoot me

But Mandrake resizes NTFS partitions no problem during the install. Run a scandisk and defrag before the install, then install into the free space, the rest is history

Cool

I have never installed with XP before. I wasn't sure about that part. I used FIPS when I had wondoze on my old machine. My new rig doesn't know what windoze is. Never seen it, probably never will.

Thanks for the info. I try not to mislead.



BTW: When you defrag, make sure you don't click 'make apps load faster' or something to that effect. It puts some info way out there. When you resize it will be gone. I would back up data just in case.

so windows can continue using ntfs and mandrake will format it's partition independently? if so, i'm happy!

and no, the xp install was onto a fresh hd, but i think the bootdisk left a dos version on there too. i really don't know though.

Correct. Mandrake will resize the NTFS partition, reformat the empty space it creates and leave your NTFS all in tact.

Cool

certainly is.

i'm sure you'll hear plenty more from me when the disks arrive.

thanks folks.

Come back anytime, I'd be glad to help

Cool

Last night i installed linux for the first time on my new p.c.

With regards to mandrake, ensure you get version 9.1 and upwards ( 9.2 is in beta ) if you have a sata. releases prior to this fail to detect sata hard drives.

After running the installer partition and install, my entire windows partition, which is xp pro, became corrupt and i was unable to boot it. I had to re-install xp, i put this down to not doing a windows defrag prior to installing linux.

I would advise you back any critical windows data up prior to installing linux, to be on the safe side.

ahhhh! someone doing exactly the same as me! luckily my pc is literally a week old so i won't lose half my life in case of any problems.

so what i'm planning to do is:

1) defrag and scandisk
2) use partition magic to set aside a space for mandrake 9.1 (leaving both partitions as NTFS)
3) install mandrake into the 'other' partition.

According to the above posts, the mandrake installer will format and further partition as necessary.

HAVE I GOT THIS RIGHT!!??

I have a 120Gb HD, how large should i make the Mandrake partition and why?

edit, i have a GB of ram, which i remeber reading has an effect on the right choice of swap space size.

Thanks.

Colm

I would put aside about 5Gb in all and you should be fine unless you know you need more. I have 12Gb for "/", 1Gb for "swap" and about 16Gb for "/usr". The /usr is the biggest one as far as data. It's like the programs directory in windows. Mine uses less than 3Gb all total and I did a pretty much full install plus a few downloads.
I noticed you have 1Gb of memory. You will need to hit "F1" for the install and type in "linux vga=0", be prepared for a little tinkering, but I think it works. It may work fine but some systems have a problem with 1Gb of mem. Read about it here:
http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/errata.php3
You can set 512M to 1Gb of swap. That should be just fine either way. I have 512M of system memory and 1Gb of swap and I used 2Mb of swap once. I had a lot open too.
The install is pretty easy really. Just be carefull when you partition not to mess up your windoze. I have done it as a newbie and had no problems. You should be fine though. I just try to give as much info as I can. Don't want you to have any suprises.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but does he need a small partition that's fat32 to swap files between XP and Linux. I've read where people do this?