Re-partitioning for Dual Boot and Development
 

I have a new PC with a large hard drive (300 G) onto which I installed Windows 2K. I left unallocated space and I now would like to add LinuxMint, but I inadvertently used 4 primary partitions it seems, and thus I can't add another extended partition. Attached is a picture of how Windows sees the drive is here: http://tinyurl.com/5vc5dq (preview version of that URL for anyone who is extra cautious: http://preview.tinyurl.com/5vc5dq ).

I am thinking now to remove the F partition and then I could make there an extended partition, using all of the rest of the disk. Then I can install Mint there, using logical partitions. Also I presume I can make some data partition in there in a format that Windows can also read, correct?

I was thinking 10 G for /

I have 2 G RAM so I was thinking of 2 G for /swap

After that I have a LOT of space left. I use this machine for web development, so I thought to make one partition for /var because IIRC Apache keeps web files in /var/www . Beyond that perhaps the rest in /home because I don't really know what else to do with it.

I have PartedMagic Live CD but someone told me that GParted is the best and I should use that Live CD to repartition.

Any thoughts, including just: "Sounds good, buddy, go for it," are appreciated. :)

Thanks!

Yes. Windows if fine with reading extended partitions. I think it might have some issues with booting them, but that's no relevant here.

That should be ample even if you intend to try out a couple of desktops and a lot of apps. You could get away with less, but space doesn't seem to be much of an issue for you.

Similar response to above, that will be more than enough. What are you doing with the machine? Editing PHP, html type files, checking email, surfing, etc, you could get away with less. Doing database stuff, etc, then it might be handy.

As before, if space isn't that big an issue for you then go for it. But remember that it's easy to add more swap space latter.

I wouldn't bother with a separate /var/www partition unless you know you're going to be cramming it or you specific security concerns about running public web server.

Best choice is but a large chunk into home (as that's were a lot large files tend to end up) and leave some free for later use. If later you find that you do want a separate /var/www directory you can create a new partition, copy the existing files over to it and then mount it under www/

Point is, if you don't need to use the space then leave it free and allocate it as you discover you need it.

It doesn't really matter. You're better off using what ever you know and feel comfortable with. Making a mistake while partitioning a working system is the kind of thing that can _really_ ruin your day!

When I said I have PMagic, I just meant I already burned it. I haven't ever used either one. :)

Thanks for your responses. I hope tomorrow to implement them!

I actually had to REMOVE the D partition b/c apparently I can only have one Extended partition. So I deleted that, recreated it as a Primary, and then removed F and put there ('til the end of the disk) an Extended and then installed. I in the end decided to install LinuxMint, and the install went perfectly and no data from C or E was lost.

Thanks everyone!

Parted magic uses gparted as it's partition editor.

http://partedmagic.com/wiki/PartedMa...c.UsingGParted