Riddle of the Mandrake 8.1 Sphinx

[spiderbaby1958]

I am attempting a dual boot install (Win98/Mandrake 8.1), which I have never managed to do before. I have installed several different Linux distros on this hard drive, alternately with Windows 98.

When I attempt to load Mandrake with the partition Wizard, I get the following two choices, neither of which make any sense to me:

"Use existing partition"

(which is supposed to mean that it detects a Linux Partition, but while there has been a Linux partition on this drive in the past, there should be none now)

"Use Windows partition for loopback"

(Haven't a clue what that means, and the documentation that accompanies the Wizard doesn't mention it among the possible options.)

Is there a right choice here? Perhaps I need a more recent version of Mandrake? :confused:

[jetblackz]

Use custom/advanced partitioning.

Did you back up your Windows files, defrag and scandisk thoroughly?

[spiderbaby1958]

YES, YES, and uh... no! Thanks.

[scott_R]

Windows loopback is a way to install linux into windows, then hit an icon to start linux from windows. It's kind of a half measure for people that want to go beyond Linux-on-a-cdrom, but aren't quite confident about partitioning their drive.

Oh, and after you split your disk in two, don't forget to make another partition. Otherwise, when you "use existing", it will try to use your windows partition. This is pretty easy to see, however, using install programs.