Hello all,
I have formatted my 30GB harddisk in order to install linux.
I have 4 partitions in my HD now. The first one have already been installed win98. Then, I start to install linux. But error just like I posted before occurred again. So, I do the following:

The first partition have 2GB size
(1) I use fdisk(window version) to create a extend partition with three logical partitions which size is: 7GB(for linux), 10GB, and 11GB. All logical partitions got no format. Then I try to install linux again. Error again!!!!

(2)I use window's fdisk again to delete the last logical partition and try to install again. Error again!!!

(3) Similar to (2), I delete all the logical paritions except the extend partition. Try install again, the system work ( it can recoginze my harddisk and report no error) but while using disk druid to create parition, the system report there are not enough space for new parition.The status area tells the window partition(i.e. 2GB one) have occupy 99% space. I wonder whether the system don't know there is a empty extend partition can be used?

What exactly should I do? Please help me! Thanks

I think your problem is that your doing all your partitioning/formatting in the windows world ....I would wipe out all those extended/logical partitions, install linux, then go back into windows after you're done and create your windows partitions....just remember not to wipe out that newly installed linux one!

You mean I should create the extend partition under window? But I want to create another two logical partiitions using in window. If I first install linux, will it be all right?

Take a example, if I have already created a extend partition within two logical partitions and all the partitions have already been used under windows (i.e. they have already had datas on them). If I don't create a empty logical partition myself, while installing linux, can it recoginze the free space and let me install it into the fat32 partition?

you need to create a linux, i.e. ext2 partition...if you want, take the partition you want to use for linux and delete it so you have unallocated space...then install linux...

short answer: leave the windows partion alone,delete all other partions. run whatever linux installer that comes with whatever distro your using. it will handle partioning and setting up the ext2file system on the rest of the drive or whatever space you give it. it should also set up lilo for dual booting automagically

I have deleted the extended partition and all the logical partitions. But I really want another logical partitions used under windows. If I install linux directly, will the linux system occupy all the space of the rest? How can I keep a centain size for the two logical partitions?

When I use disk druid tool for partitioning, the system show that the windows partition has occupied 99% space(almost 2GB). Actually that partition(2GB) has data not more than 500GB on it, why? Because there's no more space here, where should I set the root partition (/) for linux? How about the /boot partition? Must I set the windows partition(2GB) as /? What's the effect if I do so?

disk druid is showing you the size of the windows partiton -NOT- the amount of data on the windows partiton. leave the windows partition alone. you mentioned that you have a 30 GB drive, find some space in the other 28 GB to put linux.

But when I use disk druid to add a new partition(says /boot), it report not enough size message. It seems that the /boot is added in the window partition, will it?

First:

I understand that you can not have more than 4 partitions on a PC hard disk.

Now, DOS behavior:

In DOS (same on Windows) you can have 2 partitions: 1 is boot (disk C) and the other is extended. You can divide the extended in logical units (D, E,..).

Using Fdisk (DOS) you can create these 2 partitions, leaving some space not partitioned (at least 2 Gb) free to install Linux. During the installation you can create other 2 partitions using the free space: one for data (mounted as root /) and another for memory swap.

I have Linux installed this way on my PC.

Another point is the 1024 cylinders limit: the boot partition (DOS or Linux) can not be beyond this limit. If you want to boot directly from the Linux partition, it must be before this limit. I did not install LILO on the boot sector. I boot Linux this way: 1. boot DOS (only system prompt), 2. execute a batch using loadlin. (this way you can locate the partition root beyond the 1024 limit.

Good luck!!

I have build a primary partition(says C, 2GB) and two logical partitions(says C 10G and D 10G).So I left 8GB for my linux. Unfortunately, if partition my drive like that the system report error while installing.

An error occurred reading the partition table for the block device hda. The error was: No such file or directory!

You can't have more than four primary partitions. But you can make one of them an extended partition that can have a number of logical partitions in it.

Rex_chaos, have you tried this:

hda1 primary 2GB win98

hda2 extended 20BG total {
hda5 logical 10GB data
hda6 logical 10GB data }

free space 8GB

Hello linuxcool :
I have try your recommend. But the sysmtem report the following error message:


An error occurred reading the partition table for the block device hda. The error was:
No such file or directory!


Unless I keep only one logical partition withn the extended partition, or the error still occurrs. Why?

Please be clear what you are doing. When you partition your drive, you are splitting it up into separate pieces which remain fixed. A 10 GB partition is 10GB whether it has data on it or not.

The partition table can hold 4 entries. One entry can be a pointer to another table, this is called an extended partition. The extended partition can hold another 4 entries.

Each partition is given a partition type. Windows can only "see" partitions of type DOS (there is more than one DOS type). Linux can see many types. When windows (or DOS) boots, it calls the first partition it can see drive C:, the next drive D:, and so on.

The DOS FDISK program is restricted in that it does not create partitions very well. Use it to create one primary partition and delete the rest. Install windows on that partition, then forget you have DOS fdisk.

Run the Linux installer. Use its partition program to create what you need for Linux. The first partition will be called hda1, and this will contain your windows system. Ignore this completely. You only NEED 2 partitions for Linux - one a "swap" partition of about 128MB, the other a Linux Native partition. You have to add these.

If you are worried about security, or back up, then you can consider more Linux partitions, but you don't need to. Read the Partition HOWTO for more info.

This is by far the most difficult obstacle for installing Linux, so don't worry. If you let the installer do it for you you should be OK.

Joe