I have a couple questions about installing Linux

[UltraPancake]

Hi, I am VERY new to linux, but I am very experienced with a Windows enviornment and the windows partition system. But... I just read the entire "How do I set up a dual boot with Win. XP?" thread, and I am still confused about the linux partitioning. Here are my questions:
1.) I am thinking about using ArkLinux for my first Linux 'experience' because I heard it was newbie-friendly, but can you give me a solid suggestion on what you think is a good newbie distro?
2.) I really am confused about the / partioning system, and how I should partion my HDD. This is my current config, as is seen in Windows XP's Disk Manager, seeing as I don't own partion magic or anything:
120 GB HDD partioned as:
Partition 1: 4.88 GB, Windows Swap File (FAT32)
Partition 2: 53.19 GB, Windows OS and Program Files (NTFS)
Partition 3: 48.82 GB, This is where I store ALL of the files on my computer. (NTFS)
Plus I have 4.88 GB of unpartioned free space. I want to be able to edit/place files on the 3rd partion using Linux, yet I heard it was shaky with NTFS. Should I repartition it as FAT32 and put the files back on, and then install Linux on the free space, or how do you suggest I partition this thing? I really need a solid explaination of how Linux organizes files.
That's all for now, I think. Please add anything else you think I should know, as this is my first dual-boot/Linux experience and I don't think my parents (I am 14), would like me screwing up our computer.
Thanks!
:rolleyes:

By the way this is my current hardware setup:
AMD Athlon 1.6 GHz CPU
384 MBs of DDR Ram
64 MB GeForce 2 Vid. Card
120 GB HDD
8x DVD-ROM
52x24x52 CD-RW
Floppy :p

[JohnT]

1. MEPIS Linux
2. Linux reads and writes well to Fat 32. There is some working functionality with NTFS (read) with some distro's. Personally I would reformat as FAT. I have two drives as FAT that I access on a regular basis and share with XP.
3. My take on a failsafe dual-boot (read carefully and ask questions).....HERE (http://justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75693&highlight=dual+boot)

While the file system seems daunting at first glance with a little patience and a little reading it can be over come . Go HERE (http://www.pathname.com/fhs/2.2/)

[hardcore]

lol i see you learned your lesson with topic names real quick :D Never put n00b in the title ;)

Anyways, well just to throw this out, you might want to try Knoppix ( www.knoppix.org ). It's a linux distrobution that lets you run entirely from a CD-ROM. Might want to try it out before you possibly screw up the family computer.

But if that doesn't satiate your lust, onto partitioning. Basically you only need a partition for / (keeping things simple folks....). Seeing as you have 4.88GB free, this should be enough for a basic linux install.

Now to answer ur questions
1) What ever suits you best. I started out with Mandrake, and found it pretty easy to use. Word of caution tho, I didn't really LEARN anything from using mandrake, it was too easy and spoonfed. If you're hear to learn command line nitty gritty stuff try out Gentoo, Debian or Slackware, or LFS (linux from scratch) for a learning experience.

2) First off / isn't a partioning system, its a filesystem, and it resides on a partition. NTFS is stable with reading NTFS, but somewhat unstable with writing to NTFS. So you can read files, but i wouldn't really write files. You might want to convert NTFS to FAT32 filesystem to RW using linux.

Now a question for you.... Why do you have 4.88GB on a partition set aside for windows swap?

[bosox79]

Originally posted by JohnT
1. MEPIS Linux
2. Linux reads and writes well to Fat 32. There is some working functionality with NTFS (read) with some distro's. Personally I would reformat as FAT. I have two drives as FAT that I access on a regular basis and share with XP.
3. My take on a failsafe dual-boot.....HERE (http://justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=75693&highlight=dual+boot)

While the file system seems daunting at first glance with a little patience and a little reading it can be over come .

I have to throw a vote in for MEPIS also it has great tools and it is very user friendly the iHD installer sets up almost everything for you. and APT is great, I also like Fedora but one of the best things about Debian based distro's is apt and the fact that to upgrade my system I can do an apt-get update then apt-get upgrade to update all the packages on my system you can also do an apt-get distro upgrade to update your whole system, one other cool thing about debian is that ounce it is installed and setup you will not need to reinstall it. You can also use apt4rpm with fedora but it does not work quite the same has apt for Debian. but Fedora is also very newbie friendly and has good GUI tools to help you configure your system

MEPIS is also a live CD :)

[UltraPancake]

First off, thank you guys for all your help. Now, after all those distro suggestions, I am still trying to wade through all their sites. My 1st new question is what does debian-based mean? Is there a huge advantage to a debian-based distro? 2nd: When you say I should convert to FAT32, do you mean I should convert all my partions, including the Windows ones, to FAT32, or just the ones I will be sharing with Linux? And to answer hardcore's question: I have no idea why I have almost 5 gigs of space set aside for a swap file... perhaps I put the decimal in the wrong place during partitioning... ;) But anyway, I just found out that my friend owns PartitionMagic 8, which should help this process go a lot easier, or so I've heard. Thanks again for all this help!

By the way: I am starting to lean towards either the ArkLinux (my original choice) or MEPIS. Do you think it is okay starting off with an alpha version distro (ArkLinux)?

[JohnT]

Is there a huge advantage to a debian-based distro? 2nd: When you say I should convert to FAT32, do you mean I should convert all my partions, including the Windows ones, to FAT32, or just the ones I will be sharing with Linux?

Debian-based means based on the distro "Debian". The advantage that is spoken of is the process of being able to update the distro easily. You can find this in several distros that are based on this.
You only need to convert the partitions that you will share with Linux. I assumed that I had pointed out that fact in an earlier reply.
There is no need to use partition magic, in fact I would advise against it as Linux has some excellent tools for doing that. Here's a reference...HERE (http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/tutorials/4269/1/) need more ? Just ask.

[bosox79]

Originally posted by UltraPancake
First off, thank you guys for all your help. Now, after all those distro suggestions, I am still trying to wade through all their sites. My 1st new question is what does debian-based mean? Is there a huge advantage to a debian-based distro? 2nd: When you say I should convert to FAT32, do you mean I should convert all my partions, including the Windows ones, to FAT32, or just the ones I will be sharing with Linux? And to answer hardcore's question: I have no idea why I have almost 5 gigs of space set aside for a swap file... perhaps I put the decimal in the wrong place during partitioning... ;) But anyway, I just found out that my friend owns PartitionMagic 8, which should help this process go a lot easier, or so I've heard. Thanks again for all this help!

By the way: I am starting to lean towards either the ArkLinux (my original choice) or MEPIS. Do you think it is okay starting off with an alpha version distro (ArkLinux)?

Your welcome,

Debian based means's that the distro is based on Debian/Gnu Linux basically the core of a distro like say MEPIS is Debian but MEPIS has specific tools and features that make it easier to install then say standered Debian, there are plenty of other distro's that are based on other distro's like RH or slackware.
as far as converting your HD partitions to FAT32 Linux is able to read from and write to FAT32 partitions safely so it is best t convert any partitions that you need to transfer files back and forth from windows to Linux and vice versa to FAT32. You do not need to convert all partitions just the ones you will be sharing files with both OS's from.

I have never used ARK myself so I can't say how it'll work for you. But like the site says some features are still missing. My best advice would be to install both distro's and see which one suits your needs/wants the best.

good luck Bosox