Some suggestions please
 

Hi,
I am running Win XP on this machine. I performed a clean install of Win XP and created an extra partition in the amount of 11 gigs. Win XP is running on 8 gigs. Is this acceptable?
Also, I am currently downloading Mandrake. Do I need all three iso's?
When I get it downloaded, I understand there is a program in it that will allow me to partition the drive again. What is the simplest, and minimal partitions that I will need for Linux.

Please excuse my ignorance, I am VERY new but I loathe Microsoft.

Thanks

yes the 11gigs should be fine...

You need pretty much only the first 2 disks i'm sure, the other disk is just extras etc.

You really only need 1 linux partition and one swap, unless you were making /boot /usr etc etc...

if you need to know anymore just post up...

#Garry :D

p.s. Welcome to LQ and the world of Linux ! :D

I dont really know what /boot /usr and all that is. But from what I understand that you are saying is that I only need 1 main partition and 1 swap partition. How much disk space should I allocate to each one?

Yeh you don't reallly need those other partitions....

your main partition should be as much as you can/want

How big is your hardive?

And your swap should be roughly double your ram...

#Garry

Sorry, should have given those numbers in the first place. I have a 20 gig hard drive and 128 megs of ram. This is on a dell inspiron 2650 laptop but I am told I shouldnt expect any problems because of that.

Yeh some hardware may not be compaitble, most probably your modem, if you have an external modem that should work....

For your partitions you could have at least 8gb for XP 12gb for red hat....of and of course you will need roughly 256mb of swap....

#Garry

Ummmm, I am not getting Red Hat. I am getting Mandrake. :)
Anyways, I do not use the onboard modem to connect to the internet. I have DSL. Any problems with that?
Any special instructions?

Geeez sorry i didn't know where i got red hat from, i think cause someone sent me an e-mail asking for help about redhat ;)

You can probably ring up your service provider and they should have specific instructions for your DSL modem and how to set up, but anyway the latest DSL modems should be supported, maybe if you check out http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/hardware i think thats there compatible hardware list.....

#Garry