Problem installing XP and RH9 on new drive

[srigsby]

I installed a new 40GB drive in a compaq presario computer, 5500, I think (about two years old) , and first partitioned the drive leaving one half for xp and one half for linux as free space. The partition was done first by the software with the xp disk. XP installed normally, and boots. I attempted to install RH9 and let Disk Druid format the free space. RH9 did not install and I received a variety of puzzling messages, the first of which was "unable to align partition properly" I selected ignore, and installation proceeded. In three installation attempts, the process aborted at various points. The last got as far as installing core utilities 4.5.3-19 and aborted.
Although I admit to being very new to Linux, I have installed RH9 to a drive by iteself with no problem, and am running it now, although to another machine. Any suggestions for proceeding would be appreciated.

[JamminJoeyB]

Here is what I have done.

1. partcician disk with cfdisk setting up 1 fat32 partician for XP mark as bootable, 1 linux partician for / mark as bootable, 1 linux partician for /home, and one for swap. Write partician info to drive.

2. Format the fat partician before installing XP.

3. Install XP

4. Reboot with your favorite distro in the drive.

5. Install linux. (linux will usually find the linux particians and ignore the fat partician)

6. Install lilo or grub to MBR. Durring the install most distro will recognize the fat and help you configure that as a boot option.

7. Install all updated packages for security advisories. Take about 2 hours if you have an app like up2date or swaret. :D

8. Spend the next 2 weeks in reboot hell as you install all the updates for XP.

This has worked for me everytime I do a dual boot, so I stick with it.

Note: this is in no way a complete instruction. But you should get the drift.

[Parcival]

I don't know your DiskDruid program, but generally it's the best idea after the Windows installation to just leave the emtpy space on the HD the way it is until you let your rh installation program perform the necessary tasks.