Partitions, Windows, and Linux.

[Norock]

Hello there everyone! This is my first post here, and it looks like a good site to get some information. My dad just picked up a copy of RedHat Enterprise Linux (ver 3) for himself, but I want to try it out too. I've got a 60Gb HD with my Windows install on it, and I've got a 160Gb HD that's used for some extra storage. I want to partition this into a 100Gb for Linux and a 60Gb for extra Windows storage. Now, the problem is this. I don't know if i should format the partition using the Windows formatter or the Linux. I'm thinking that maybe if I divide the hard drive in two using the Linux partitioner, then go back and format the 60Gb partition with Windows to the NTFS file system, I should be good. However, I'm beginning to wonder if the partitions Linux makes will be picked up by the Windows XP partitioner. Any help that anyone could give would be great, I have basically no experience with Linux, but it seems to be a cool Operating System. So, thanks!

Rocko

[Dark Ninja]

Howdy and welcome to Linux!

Okay, so...my recommendation would be to do one of two things.

1.) If you are using a program in Windows such as Partition Magic (excellent program, BTW) -- it can create Windows/Linux/etc. partitions for you. My recommendation would be to create the partitioning scheme you want using this program and then going ahead and install RedHat. When you get to the appropriate spot in the installation, tell the system that RedHat should be installed on already created partitions.

2.) If you do not have a partitioning program in Windows that can create Linux partitions (EXT2/EXT3/ReiserFS/JFS/etc.), then you're going to have to use RedHat's partition program to create the partition scheme. It should be similar to Partition Magic...it just won't look as pretty. ;)


As for Windows being able to "see" Linux partitions, as I said before, certain Windows programs can see Linux partitions (such as Partition Magic) but Windows itself cannot access these partitions (as far as I know).

Okay, hope that helped a bit. Good luck!

[infiniphunk]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but formatting and installing windows to you HD 1st will probably easier to do.
Install windows first; make sure you install a firewall before allowing it to connect to the net if you use a cable connection. If you are going to do it this way and wan to use Partition Magic, partition your disc BEFORE installing Norton AV, otherwise your anti-virus will give you problems!
Once you've used PM then you're ready.

[Norock]

Okay, so. I got PartitionMagic and I had all the operations I wanted done pending. However, as soon as I click "Apply", it doesn't actually carry out any of the formatting or partitioning I want done, but simply revert back to one large NTFS partition. Is the Trial Version of PartitionMagic unuseable or is there something I'm missing here?

[saikee]

The way I see it is how to arrange the drive when you possibly have already used up the whole 160 drive and now need a third party software to resize the partitions.

Bearing in mind Red Hat will not need more and 10Gb and possibly another 3 to 4 Gb for a swap partition I would leave empty space behind rather coming back to resize the Red Hat again.

Depending on the size of your data the most effective way could be to creat a temporary directory inside the Windows' 60Gb to unload at least one partition if not all the partitions. Reformat the 160Gb in Windows and create the smaller 60Gb partition for transfer back your Windows data. Leave the 100Gb unformat and use Red Hat to partition the 10Gb and 4Gb for its use.

You can install Red Hat on the 160Gb and it will include Windows in its boot up.

If you want a fast installation put Red Hat's bootloader into Windows drive's MBR. You need WIndows installation CD to restore MBR if needed in future.

If you want to preserve Windows' MBR then accept Red Hat's offer to make a bootable floppy and put the bootloader inside its own partition of the 160Gb unit. No floppy the PC boots to WIndows. With floppy the PC boots to Red Hat. If you are satisfied, can access Windows from the Red Hat side and want the arrangement permanent then simply make WIndows partition (of the 60Gb) inactive and Red Hat's own partition active. The PC will boot to Red Hat from now on. Any time you want Windows back without Red Hat just reverse the active partition, which you can do within Red Hat or Windows or a DOS floppy(with fdisk in it).

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Trial version of PM

The software vendors like to retain the parts most needed by you. Resizing a partition is the only facility I need in PM and I wouldn't be surprised that is what happened in your case, to motivate a user wanting to shoot out of the door to buy the product from the shop.