Setup Computer as Linux ONLY

[Robert Keneely]

I have an old, old, Compaq Presario that I would like to setup as Linux Only.

I replaced the 420MB hard drive [I told you it was old!] with a spare 2 gig hard drive that I had on hand. The 2 gig drive presently has Win98SE installed. I plan to format this drive to clear it off.

My question is, how do I need to setup this HD so that it is ready to accept the Linux installation disk. From past experience I have learned that Format and Fdisk prepare the drive assuming that Windows/DOS will be installed.

[threadhead]

i would recommend to use cfdisk.
with that utility you can specify the filesystem. (that must be ext2/3
, reiserfs & others)

thats quite it. ;)

[nouse66]

you ont really have to do anything untill you're actually installing. the distros with pretty installs (redhat, suse, and mandrake) will let you do te partitioning and formating with their gui tool. other distros should let you open up fdisk or cfdisk ad do the partitioning/formating.
maybe i'm wrong but personally i've never done anything to my harddisks before booting the install disk unless i was setting up a dual-boot.

[viperlin]

most newbie distro's come with a disk partitioner (mandrake 9 comes with a good graphical one u set up during instalation (or it does it itself, depending on if u did a recomended or expert install)

[Robert Keneely]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for your prompt responses. This evening I will run the Western Digital floppy [making one big partition] then try loading the Red Hat 6.2.

My only concern now is the Compaq's very slow CPU. Are there any other distros that are compatible with slow CPUs ???

[threadhead]

most of them are, you have to adapt the installation to fit your CPU's
power.
done ;)