Hi,

I'm new to Linux and am about to install Mandrake 9.1. Can someone provide some suggestions for partitioning my drive? I did a quick google search and couldn't find the info I'm looking for ...

I have a single 60 Gb drive that currently has a C: partition with Windows XP, a D: partition with My Documents, and F: partition that I created with PartitionMagic for Linux. In the Mandrake installation it doesn't seem to give the option to use the F: partition that I made. The only options are 1. erase all, 2. use space from Windows partition, 3. custom. I was hoping the install would take care of the partitioning for me, since I'm not sure how to setup the swap partition, etc. Also does it matter what the order of the partitions are on the drive?

Thanks alot, I'm looking forward to getting this going!

Mark

Select the 'custom' option. This will get you mandrake's partioning program. Select the space you've created with partition magic, and i think you can then select the option 'default partitioning' or something like that, the installer will automatically create a root, boot and swap partition for you.

The key to this one would have been not to have created an F partition in advance with Partition Maigic - On average Linux distros install easier when they can create their own partitions out of unpartitioned free space. Mandrake has built in tools that you can use during the install to create partitions etc for Mandrke.(even an automatic partition option etc)

Personaly I'd use Partition Magic to delete your F partition to leave some free space - then install Mandrake into that free space with the option "keep all existing partitions and install in free space" ie your telling the Mandrake installer to keep your C and D partitions and install into the free space after those partitions.