Dual Boot Question: Primary or Logical?

kushalkoolwal · 03-12-2009, 04:28 PM

Suppose I have a 80 GB HDD. The 1st primary partition (/dev/hda1) contains Windows XP.

Now let's say I would like to install Linux also (Typical Dual boot scenario). My question is:

Should I install Linux on 2nd primary partition (/dev/hda2) or on a logical partition (/dev/hda5)

EDIT:Are there any pros/cons of installing on primary versus logical partition and vice-versa?

pljvaldez · 03-12-2009, 05:15 PM

In my limited experience it doesn't matter. I do usually create a shared fat32 partition though also. That way I can have files on both linux and windows that I want. Now that ntfs-3g is so good though, I'm not even sure you need that...

thorkelljarl · 03-12-2009, 07:28 PM

Enten Eller

You can use two more primary partitions and an extended or just one extended . Data recovery may be easier from a primary partition if it comes to that. This would suggest reserving them for the critical data in the system.

Partitioning scheme questions generate almost as many views as those on what is the best distro in the world.