Hey all
I'm about to install Red Hat 9 on my machine, dual-booting it with WinXP, and I wanted to do it properly Could you help?

Here's where I stand. I have one 40GB hardisk with two partitions - C: and D: (as WinXP reads them).

Windows XP is installed in D: drive, and C drive is virtually free (a few files... less than 100KB). C: drive has the capacity of 18.6 GB and I plan to provide Red Hat 9 6 GB here.

Now here's the 'thing'. I want to split partition C: into two so that one has 6GB of space (for RH9) and other the remaining (for WinXP to use). At the same, I want the other partition (D: drive, the one with WinXP) untouched. How can I do this?

Will the option Keep my current partitions and use existing free space under Automatic Partition work here?

If not, how do I configure that hda1 be split into two?

I'd appreciate any help

it is possible to change patrition size, move or merge partitions with programs such as PQ partition magic. but it is a little risky.

first backup all of the data in your all of partitions!!! then delete C partition (dont forget to backup boot.ini ntldr and other system files in C:\ ). create C again with the size that u want. set active that partition. format it then copy back that sytem files to C:\. now u have unpartitioned space to install linux. install linux. the option "Keep my current partitions and use existing free space" will work now. but u will have a trouble about booting XP. u must edit c:\boot.ini and give correct partition of XP. mine is in 2nd partition. yours will be probably in 3rd or 4th maybe 5th patition

here is my disk:
root@teknik shell-scripts]# /sbin/fdisk -l
Disk /dev/hda: 30.7 GB, 30750031872 bayt
16 kafa, 63 sektör/iz, 59582 silindir
Birimler = silindir / 1008 * 512 = 516096 bayt
Aygıt Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 34553 17414428+ c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda2 34553 59575 12611025 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda5 34553 44721 5124703+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda6 44722 55286 5324728+ 83 Linux
/dev/hda7 55287 55806 262048+ 82 Linux takas

[mesut@teknik shell-scripts]$ cat /mnt/win/boot.ini
[Boot Loader]
timeout=5
Default=C:\
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition[B](2)[B]\WINDOWS="M$ xp Pro Tr" /fastdetect
C:\="M$ win 98 Se Tr"

good luck.

Hey, thanks for this!

Sorry about the late response. Incidentally I read this post too late. I tried PQ Paritition Magic 8 and it failed to split C!! It destroyed my master boot record when I tried to merge the pieces together. And I had to install Windows 2000 Advanced Server on my partition. I couldn't access the internet because I had my modem drivers for WinXP only lol. Anyway, I'll try to fix it today.

Thanks for this On my next attempt, I'll make sure I follow these closely