Problem with install concerning seletion of root partition

7humbs · 02-07-2007, 02:40 AM

I've been trying out several LiveCD distros over the past few months and have now decided to take the plunge and set up a dual-boot system running WinXP and, of course, SimplyMEPIS 6 (latest release). However, I've been having problems installing from the LiveCD. I had already set up 2 partitions using gparted: hda1 is my WinXP NTFS partition, and hda2 is my ext3 partition (I have ~1GiB of ram, so I didn't think I'd need a /swap). I opened the installer from the MEPIS desktop, select hda as my disk of choice and select "Custom Install on Existing Partitions". I started seeing problems when I reached the second step though. Step 2a. asks to select the / (root) partition, but the drop down menu says "none" with no other option. Is there some special procedure I am missing to create this mysterious root partition? I've tried mounting the partition (or a least I think I did, I don't even know how to change directories from command line), but to no avail. I did check the md5sum of the iso, and I wrote the CD at the slowest possible speed, so errors originating from these processes are hopefully slim. I've heard some great things about the support Linux users can get from their fellows, don't prove these rumors false!
With much thanks,
Eric

junme · 02-07-2007, 03:07 AM

just check if you formated the partition after you created it in gparted

7humbs · 02-07-2007, 03:22 AM

Yes, I made sure to commit the formatting, both in gparted and qtparted. I did go back to qtparted to verify, but now it won't let me do anything to either of the partitions except view Properties.

Eric

junme · 02-07-2007, 03:41 AM

there are two processes create -commit when they are created format

mepnoob2005 · 03-05-2007, 11:38 PM

Download gparted. It is burnt to cd as an iso. Runs just like a live linux cd. Use it to make your partitions over. Reformat hda2 into ext3 then make a linux/swap partition (formatted to linux/swap) of about 1000Mb or 1 gig, and the fourth partition you would make into an 'extended' partition that used up all of the rest of the free space. From the extended partition use gparted to make your home partition and format that to ext3. Then custom install to existing partitions. It should do it then.