Hi,
I want to install Linux Mandrake 9.2. All goes fine until I get to the Partition-Setup:
I have a 20 GB Harddisk completly with Windows XP Proffesional.
I want to have 6 GB for Linux and 14 GB for Windows so I set new the New-Windows Partition-Space to 14 GB but it only makes a free Partition of max. 600 MB, not more.
I also tried in the Expert-Mode and I restarted often but it doesn't work.
Could anybody tell me how to fix this?
Thanks

This is a common problem. One thing you could try is to run the Disk Defragmenter from Windows, and hope it clears up enough space. If it doesn't work, then you will need better partitioning software. The Mandrake installer can only allocate space at the end of the drive that has no data fragments on it. It is unlikely that you will get away with 6GB out of 20GB with it.

Doesen't work because Disk Defragmenter of Windows XP is too bad, already tried it out, is not even a MB better with it.
Wich partitioning software would you recommend? Partition Magic 8 is not free....

You can try Qtparted at this address : http://www.icewalkers.com/Linux/Soft.../QtParted.html

I have had the exact same problem

when you install type noapic nolapic after your boot choice
eg expert noapic nolapic and you should be able to install

Back up all your Windows XP Pro user data files, like your email, spreadsheets, documents, etc. In Win98, a lot of this data goes into the "Application Data" directory by default. Make sure you have saved your data and know what directories they belong in. Then blow the Windows partition or partitions away, repartition to make less space for Windows and leave space for Linux unpartitioned. Reinstall Windows and your Windows applications, and then copy your existing data back into place. This works fine for Win98---are there problems doing this with Windows XP Pro? If so, maybe there's a backup/restore program that can do all that.

Use the Linux installer to make the Linux partitions.