Hi, wondering if an expert can offer some guidance please. I'm dual booting redhat8 with windows xp, and the only installation that seems to work for me is (on 80GB drive) having a small boot partition, then xp, then root, and then I have an extended partition with swap and another ntfs section for my windows data. The problem is that now I cant create any more partitions for keeping my ghost or powerquest images on - the programmes refuse to work - not even to burn direct to cdr. Can anyone recommend the best way to set up my partitions so that linux will still boot but I can also create more partitions? I think the image progs need to create a virtual partition. I'm really not all that computer savvy but need linux for my coursework. If the only way to do this is to install another hard drive I am willing to do so, but prefer just the one as I will need an IDE controller card and aren't familiar with how I should set the two drives up. The only way I can get Linux to work is if I have the small boot partition and then install to MBR. I want to reformat and get everything set up right, so if anyone can assist I will be very grateful.

Regards, Paul.S

well where is the rest of this free space? presumably the extended partition takes up the rest of the drive with the blank space inside it? shouldn't be a problem to use linux fdisk (or cfdisk or whatever your mystery distro contains) to create extra partitions. I'm not sure about creating them after an extended partition, i don't *think* it's possible, but i've never tried it. the setup you have so far is perfectly adequate, but you already have 4 main partitions (3 primary + extended) so you can't make any more primaries afaik.

thanx chris - yep thats the problem, partition magic wont let me create anymore either, so what should i do, put rh8 (not mystery) on 1 drive and xp on another? any tips for that?

thanks, Paul.S

well not totally sure what "that" actaully is still... but can't you just resize the extended partition?

personally i prefer having 1 drive 1 OS, as it has many advantages. it's not essential... you should be fine if you can resize it...

nah, resizing doesnt seem to work. I think i'll go with the 1 os per drive. So once I find info on having more than 4 drives (zip, cdr, cd, hdd, hdd) I'll format hdd1, install xp then fire up the redhat disks and hopefully install to hdd2... installation should be no probs then? i'm a total noob to ide controller card too... any pitfalls you know of when i try this solution? thanks for your instantaneous help too... the internet is a great tool when you can get past the garbage and actually find helpful people such as yourself...

Regards, Paul.S

well that's where things get more interesting, i always vote for linux on primary master, and windows on slave. search this site for me using the phrase "map-drive=0x80" it's slightly easier to install lnux on a second drive, but i don't think it's for the best.

what kind of info are you after for more than 4 drives? you'e either got an additional IDE controller card or raid, or you havent....

ok, i'll take your advice on that... not sure how i'm gonna go about it tho', dont i *need* to install xp first? - so i'd select my slave for it and then do redhat on the primary? I only plan on buying a 20 gig drive - i guess windows ok on this then put redhat on the 80 (master) - use the rest of the master for data and images... dont have raid. motherboard is intel d845egb2 (bg?)... Im assuming i can just buy a hdd and an ide controller card and whammo.... never done it tho', but i'm sure i'll find some info... eventually... will search for those posts. and happy new year 2 u

thx, Paul

i have a CMD649 (the cheapest i could find) controller, and it worked first time out of the box, no setting up whatsoever.

you won't need to install windows first necessarily, as the whole point here is that they are kept physically seperate, and the mbr of each OS is kept "pure".... but there's more about that on other posts...

cheers, thanx again

chris, just wondering why you go for lilo? - only grub seemed to work for me, and only after editing the conf file... what about the 'other' boot managers, such as the powerquest one? ever tried it?

Paul

only ever used lilo acutally, it's a lot more logical than grub is to configure. also it's prettier...

pretty is good... booting to _something_ is better ...

there are a few troubleshooting guides for lilo, but i'ts never been a problem for me

now, if you can just help me with my beer gut, relationship, study, and mafia problems....

Cool! I have an alternate personality posting as mechatron

I'd almost believe it if it weren't for the mafia problems...

Cool