Getting ready to install Mandrake 9.2 from downloaded .iso images:

I recently installed Windows 2000, and my system is temporarily dual boot Windows 2000/Windows 98 using Bootmagic. Partition Magic 6.0 is installed on C:\ on Win98 where Mandrake will soon reside. I assume Bootmagic is then installed to the MBR on C:\ which will be wiped when i format for Linux. I want to keep Win2k for support at least until Linux is setup, functional, etc.

1. What is the best method for uninstalling 98 without causing a problem with Bootmagic? If I format that partition for Linux without doing anything with Bootmagic will it cause a problem or will the program be wiped out? I have no preference for running the bootmanager on the Mandrake Install (I assume there is one right?) over Bootmagic, I just don't want to cause a conflict.

I'm running a P3 850mhz box w/ 20gig primary and 6gig slave hard drives. 3 Fat32 partitions now: C:\ 4 gigs for Win98, D:\ for Win2k on the second hard drive (6g) and E:\ is a second Fat32 on the first drive at 16g.

2. I haven't done any partitioning yet, is 4gigs enough for a standard Mandrake install? If need be I can move my files from E:\ to D:\ so I can completely reformat the 20gig drive.

Any thoughts or advice is appreciated. This is my first install, lots of questions still, but I can't do much until I get my hands on it. Sorry for the novel! Thanks in advance

You should be able to remove your Windows 98 partition and then install linux. Linux adds its' own bootloader, you have a choice of Grub or Lilo. As far as the size of your partition for mandrake, it depends on how many packages you want to install. If you just select the default packages to start you should be okay. If you use something like partition magic to remove the windows 98 partition or alternately fdisk from a windows 98 startup disk, then just load your mandrake cd assuming your bios supports autoboot. When partitioning select the defaults and use available disk space and you away. Any further problems, let us know.

Mark.
www.stoctech.co.uk
Computing, Digital & CCTV Solutions.