Hi guys, Im really new at Linux, and Im just learning the Shell Language. Ive only a couple lessons down so far (Im at the Pipeline tutorial). But anyways, thats besides the point. I tried installing Mandrake Linux 9.1 on my pc today. I am running windows ME and I was both ME and Linux on my pc. I put in my ISO disk i burnt from a website and setup ran. But when it comes to the part where you select what kind of partition you want, or I should say where you want it, I select the first one. It should automatically partition itself taking space from my c:. but everytime i do this it only makes a partition of 252 mb or 300mb. im a real newb when it comes to partitioning and ive had to reinstall windows many times cuz of it . lol. anyways, can someone help me setup linux? I want it to run on a 3 gig partition, and I want my ME on my pc also. Thanks

Assuming you haven't partitioned up the drive, and you are referring to the part of the install that says something like:
Then here's what I'd do...

Go into windoze, run scandisk then run defrag. Once you've got it defragged pop back in the install CD and try again. Be sure you've cleaned up your windoze partition from within windoze as much as you can (clean out the recycle bin and all). While in windoze verify the amount of free space, and then try again.

When you try to install into free space again, if there is still not enough room, post back. But beware, you are pretty much running a huge chance of losing data (possibly important) regardless of how we proceed. You might (if possible) consider backing up those very important files.

Cool

Hi Duddy11

Is it the case that currently Windows Me takes up your whole hard drive as a C partition and within that partition youve got some free space left over?

or

Is it the case that currently Windows Me only takes up part of your hard drive and youve got some completely unpartitioned free space at the end of your drive?

# Pre-installation guides
GNU/Linux pre-installation checklist
The Pre-Installation Help File

# Partitioning
Linux Partition HOWTO
Rute - Partitions, File Systems, Formatting, Mounting

I am not really sure.. But i think windows installs itself on my c: drive. and I cant run PM because it says its drive letter is missing???lol are there any other good partition utilities out there? thanks guys

Hi Duddy

I'd just follow Master C's advice.

One other thing - if you choose Custom disk partitioning when installing Mandrake 9.1 it will show you a Graphical Representation of your hard drive - you'll definately then know if Win ME takes up your whole drive or whether there's some frree space at the end - Mandrake can re-size partitions - but be safe just in case and back up!

Just:

Back-up
Defrag
Custom disk partitioning
Re-size ME partition(s)
Create a Root and Swap partition in the resulting Free space