Win98/ Linux Struggle

[justaham]

Hello All, new to this forum but I've done alot of reading on this site

Unfortunately, even with all the reading on setting up a Win98/ Linux system I still can't get past Partitioning for some reason.....

Here's what I've been planning to do;

1) 40Gb disk setup as follows:
- Win98 C: (2GB)
- Extended with D: (4GB), E:(4GB), F:(20GB)
- Linux Boot (100MB), Linux Swap (512MB), Linux/ (4GB), Linux/ usr (rest of disk)
- share F with both OS's for file storage and a backup point to CD

I've tried 4 times to get Win98 and Linux to setup on this disk to no avail. The first time I set up 1 primary w/Win98 on it, Installed Fedora Core #1 using it to setup /boot & swap, then extended with both Linux and Windoze partitions. Unfortunately Fedora installs just fine but locks up when it goes to load after installing.

Used SuSE Live CD to rework the partitions Fedora had made. When I restarted, Windows ran ScanDisk which freaked and toasted the Partition table trying to "fix" problems. Used the same setup again using the SuSE install CD but no luck after installing.

If I use Win98 fdisk to make a primary + extended with logical drives on it leaving 10GB for Linux to work with, then Fedora will only let me set up the swp & /boot partitions (labled like they are primary - hda2 & hda3) but will not let me create a / partition and install saying something about making a partition that is larger then the disk is.

I think I'm running out of ideas.

What I have at the moment.. a 40GB drive with 1 Primary partition only running Win98 (2GB) all setup and running fine. SuSE Live CD, SuSE FTP Install CD, Fedora Core #1 Install CD's. Atleast the SuSE Live will get along with Win98 if nothing else will. Glad I kept my original 20GB in tact, I can always use it.

Any ideas would be appriciated!

Regards,

Just a Ham.

[mdwatts]

Create

/boot - 30mb - primary (beginning of drive)
Win98 - 3-4GB - primary

Extended Partition

Create logical partitions as you like for the remaining partitions (/root, swap, /usr and a shared fat32 partition).

Install the Linux bootloader in /boot and make it the active partition.

[justaham]

Originally posted by mdwatts
Create

/boot - 30mb - primary (beginning of drive)
Win98 - 3-4GB - primary

Extended Partition

Create logical partitions as you like for the remaining partitions (/root, swap, /usr and a shared fat32 partition).

Install the Linux bootloader in /boot and make it the active partition.

I take it, that I would have to clear all partitions I have now and use cfdisk to setup both primary partitions and the extended with logical drives as well?

Should I assume I should use Win98 to format the vfat partitions to be on the safe side?

Will Win98 handle being on the second Primary, I know the last time I used Linux to set up my partitions for Windows to use, Scandisk messed everything up to the point I had to start over from square one. I think I remember something about the Fat tables not matching or something to that effect. I do remember Scandisk looking like the original DOS version when it ran (seemed to switch from the regular one to an older version)

The reason I use multiple partitions for Windows, is so I can install some of my programs on a different one incase C: ends up trashed and I can recover my user files from my e-mail and book marks etc. Kind of a safe gard against viruses etc.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards,

Just a Ham

[glasdave]

Yes it will work ok...you just have a huge MBR for lilo, grub or whatever:p

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by glasdave
Yes it will work ok...you just have a huge MBR for lilo, grub or whatever:p

:confused:

That is only 30mb for /boot.

Having a separate /boot partition (that is set as active) prevents you from having to install the Linux bootloader in the mbr. No version of Windows installs it's bootloader in the mbr. Why should you allow Linux to do so?

The /boot partition also contains the kernel image(s), System.map, initrd etc. of which you need 20-30mb of space just in case you decide to have multiple kernel's.

[justaham]

Thanks MD! Worked like a charm. 98 didn't freak this time even though I used SuSE to make the partitions. But I did use Win98 to format the ones I was going to use for it.

I didn't put the /boot at the begining though, it's after the Win98 primary (getting tired of installing Windows over and over again!)

My HD looks like the following;

- C: Win89 (2GB)
- hda2 /boot (30M)
- hda3 swap (512M)
- hda4 ext
- D: Win98 (4GB)
- E: Win98 (4GB)
- F: Win98 (19.5) shared
- hda8 /var (50M)
- hda9 /root (2GB)
- hda10 /usr (rest of the drive)

Now the fun begins, my /var is 95% full from the install upgrades and I have to learn how to install new programs!


Thanks again for your help.

Regards,

Just a Ham

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by justaham

Now the fun begins, my /var is 95% full from the install upgrades and I have to learn how to install new programs!


Glad to help.

Since /var holds your system logfiles of which can get quite large, ensure you are using logrotate to keep your logfiles in check.

man logrotate

[justaham]

man logrotate? as in "a manual" or as opposed to automatic?

I definately need a manual to drive this thing now lol. Any good links for some "light reading" on using Linux? Been working with DOS and Windows for over 15yrs now, now I have to start over from square one as it were...

Thanks and regards,

Just a Ham

[justaham]

Good Grief....... must have been a longer day then I thought... sorry MD, found my own answer..... like they say.. RTFM or RTFF in this case..

Regards,

Just a Ham