Have xp -want to install RedHat this minute -unsure

[quadrant6]

hi,

O.k just got the 3 redhat cds and printed off the official installation manual, backed up all my ****.

I have never thouched linux. I am running xp pro currently and would like to put red hat on as well just to try.

I have 1 80gb HDD and 3 partitions like so

c: partition [ 2.80 GB ]
d: partition [ 11.18 GB ] *XP boot
e: partition [ 60.56 GB ]

all formatted to FAT32.

my e: drive is where i keep all my random data, at the moment there is only about 100mb being used there so i thought i would just install linux there? is it possible to do that, share a partition linux/xp files & random data?

I really want to start installing,

[l01yuk]

Ok, what I would do is move your random data to d:, as a disclaimer I'm going to say back up your data onto CD if you can.

Next re-partition your e: to

e: 30G FAT32 for Linux
f: 30G FAT32 for Random stuff from XP and Linux

f: will be your random data partition for both Linux and XP and Linux will be installed on e:. Linux won't actually use the FAT32 filesystem but it will be able to re-format it to the format it wants no problem.

In Linux the drives are labled differently,

c: = hda1
d: = hda2
e: = hda3
f: = hda4

so when the install asks you install on hda3.

Now make sure your bios will allow you to boot from CDROM and put the first CD in the drive....

[quadrant6]

o.k thanks. I'll have to get partition magic to re-partition e: to e:/f:
right, or is there another way to do this through windows ?

[l01yuk]

You should be able to do it with fdisk. You only really need something like partition magic if you want to re-size partitions. Just delete the partition (having moved your data) and create the 2 smaller partitions.

[quadrant6]

o.k well i reformatted the whole HDD and re-partitioned with my segate diskmaster like this:

11 GB - *XP boot
50 GB - *data
20 GB - *install linux here

All three are = FAT32

so i put XP back on first and then rebooted with my red hat cd in the drive getting all excited, went through the process but when it comes time to "install the packages" it comes up with a progress bar box stating "formatting filesystem" but it just sits on 10%, i waited for like 20mins and i tried rebooting again but the same thing happens ?

i suspect it's something i must have done wrong in the partitioning bit

when it came to this part of the installation i just selected the 11GB partition and told it to be "/" (root) and format to "ext3" it told me i should probably make a seperate parition for the boot and anther for the swap but it doesn't have to.

:confused:

[l01yuk]

Ok, I think you have selected to install RH over your XP install. :eek: You need to choose the 20G partition and tell it to be root. It is a good idea to create a swap partition but this will be possible as a step of the install process, no need to do it from windows. The installer should be able to create this from space in your 20G partition and should generally be 2xRAM. I can't be very specific here because I have not used RH lately and the installer is one of the things that differs between distro's. Maybe a RH user could help about how to set up the partitions and format them during install.

Anyone?

[quadrant6]

Damn, sorry i meant to put this

i just selected the 20GB partition.

I see though if i did the before that would be a prob :D.