last time I used the restore disc coming with my HP laptop, it removed all the partitions I created. And hte restore disc of my compaq claims it will do the same thing.
If your restor disc works the same way as mine, it's useless creating your partitions with fdisk, the partitions will disappear after the restoring.
So, what I suggest you is also the simplest way. Use your restore disk to restore your operating system.
Then, shrink your disk (whic will be named c:) in order to let it a small part of your drive instead of your whole drive.
The simplest way to shrink your c: partiton is using Partition Magic.
I would suggest make the c: partition as small as possible, let's say 4 to 15 Giga, et let the remaining space for data and for Unix.
Then, most of Linux install disks (Mandrake for instance) install themselves after Microsoft Windows and manage the dual boot thing, so you have nothing to do by yourself.
I would also suggest, before installing Linux, to use Windows disk manager in order to create a small partition with a fat32 filesystem. Then, Mandrake will mount this partition on a Unix filesystem, and you will be that way be able to share files between windows and Linux : the files windows writes on the D: disk, Linux will be able to read/write them on the /mnt/windows2 filesystem.
By the way, qwijibow said it right, there are several tutuorials and several posts on astahost explaining how to do that, I expressed my own opinion here and you will see that other people think differentely. That's the funny thing in Open World : two different people have two different opinions, and probably both are right!
Good luck with your formatting
Yordan

 

 

 

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Ah ok, thanks.
Is it possible to use my boot disc of Gnoppix for the partition?
Only time I've ever used it was to boot from the CD drive to fool around but I could never save anything.

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Reading you dont have much knowledge about this, Id highly recommend that you use partition magic, you'll be able to configure everything from there, apply the changes and restart.. the process wil now begin and you'll files will be safe.

Also restoring the disk to its previous state its really easy, and theres no way you can screw up and damage your hdd.

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Slasher, that's a Windows solution not a Linux solution, anyways, the Linux partition is easier.

Anyways, since Gnoppix is a branch off Knoppix, it should have the proper partitioning system. From what I use the most, just type sudo qtparted, then you can start partitioning. I recommend the YaST partitioning system over QTParted, but if that's what you want, then go for it.

xboxrulz

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Haha....I feel like such a newbie.

Starting from my notebook running XP home right now, how would I partition about 5gigs to run a flavor of Linux?

Do I use Partition Magic like Slasher said or do I boot from the Gnoppix CD and go from there?

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Well, first of all, before I ask any questions, let me ask this first:

Why do we need multiple operating systems for one computer? That's pretty pointless.. and I don't even know why or how it will work!! I mean, do you select an operating system to run after your RAM check?

Hahaahhaa!! Someone explain to me.. please!!

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I have 3 Operating systems on my Computer,

Gentoo Linux (my Main distro)
FreeBSD (just for fun)
WindowsXP (just in case)

I NEED a *nix OS like Linux or BSD for my work.
but a kep a windows partiton for a few games that wont work under Linux.

And yes, You choose which OS to boot when the initial boot loader runs, just after the first BIOS screen.

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cyborgxxi, multiple operating system is achieved over a bootloader, which is the one that loads the kernel at boot-time. There's one for every operating system in the world. It is stored at your hard disc's MBR (Master Boot Record). The UNIX based boot loader, GRUB (GRand Unified Bootloader) can boot Linux and or UNIX complaint operating system and Windows under a menu which you need to choose.
You can have an infinite amount of operating systems if your computer can store that many.

xboxrulz

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Purely for educational/entertainment purposes.

I wanted to try my hand at something different - and this was what came up.

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i think at the beginning, should you first try to confirmed that is, typical copy of windows xp have the drivers of you laptop it want or not. if it did, you can go install xp as normal. however, if not, then, you may backup you current xp first. after that, following the step to get running both os on you computer.

NOTE: THE STEPS BELOW YOU FOLLOW MAY BE MADE YOU LOSS ALL OF THE DATA YOUR COMPUTER HAVE, ALWAYS BACKUP IT FIRST.

I have assumed that you are using fat or fat32 filesystem, coz this make setting easy.

1.) if you wanted a fresh windows to be installed, use your restore cd that come from you machine first. now, you should have a fresh window xp installed.

2.) boot your computer from ms-dos or win9x start-up disk, backup the newer windows to any media( including program files, ...etc), this will use later
3.) now, install the window xp using you typical copy( not the restore cd ), and dont forget choose partition your hard disk, this is coz the computer vendor typical make use of whole disk in the restore disk system. partition a size you like but that can be holding a complete windows xp system, you should have 1GB or larger( if you would installing game, then, you may make larger). this step is to partition you hard drive to have room for windows xp and linux and install the system loader for windows xp.
4.) then, boot you computer with ms-dos or win9x start-up disk again, first rename the windows you just installed, and then, copy your windows xp backup create in step 2.
5.) after the windows xp is copyed, restart you computer to test it if it can boot-up, dont forget the newer window directory name and the backup window directory must be the same. otherwise will failed.
6.) if windows xp start-up success, enjoy to check it whether all the function of you computer would do as before. if it did, go next step, otherwise, check the step above again.

7.) now, you are arrived the last step, for now, you have installed a windows that came with you vendor and have room for installing a linux distso to you computer. you may now following the method posted before to install linux. have fun.

- hope this help

 

 

 

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