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Partitioning for XP & Linux, How Much for What?



 
 
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  #1  
Old October 5th 04, 03:57 PM
Nehmo Sergheyev
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Partitioning for XP & Linux, How Much for What?

I'm setting up a new boot drive of 120 GB (and I'm also going to have an
80 GB, but there's already stuff on that), and I intend to use XP Home
as my main OS. But I also want to learn this Linux thing I've been
hearing about, so I want to make a separate partition for that.

So what's the best way to partition the 120 GB HD? I assume three
partitions:
one for the XP OS,
one for Linux, and
one for documents and programs? Should this be separated into two
partitions?

How much space should I allocate for each partition? And does this
arrangement make sense?

My main concern is having a system that can be backed up easily, as a
regular precaution, and fixed easily should something happen. I've been
told that a separate partition for the OS is preferable because then a
reinstall is easier.

And while I'm asking, which Linux should I get? One Linux app I'm
interested in is Asterisk http://www.asterisk.org/ .

And one more question. When I install a program on the document-program
partition, should I make it put its common files on that partition too?
Or should I allow the program to put its common files on C:\Program
Files\Common Files , the usual default place?

--
*********************
* Nehmo Sergheyev *
*********************


  #2  
Old October 5th 04, 04:22 PM
Harry Ohrn
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

You are better off having Linux on a separate drive. During Linux
installation it requires 3 partitions of it's own and it can really screw
with a drive if you don't know what you are doing during setup. An
alternative to installing Linux, if you just want to get a feel for it would
be to use Knoppix or MandrakeMove. Both are self-contained Linux distros
that are run entirely off a CD. To play with Linux you simply reboot with
the CD and it runs without affecting your Hard drive. You can set it up so
that you can work with files on a drive if you so desire. Knoppix enables
you to save your configurations to a floppy so you don't have to reconfigure
everytime you run it. MandrakeMove can save your special configuration to a
USB key.

http://www.knoppix.net/docs/

http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/mandrakemove

--

Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


"Nehmo Sergheyev" wrote in message
...
| I'm setting up a new boot drive of 120 GB (and I'm also going to have an
| 80 GB, but there's already stuff on that), and I intend to use XP Home
| as my main OS. But I also want to learn this Linux thing I've been
| hearing about, so I want to make a separate partition for that.
|
| So what's the best way to partition the 120 GB HD? I assume three
| partitions:
| one for the XP OS,
| one for Linux, and
| one for documents and programs? Should this be separated into two
| partitions?
|
| How much space should I allocate for each partition? And does this
| arrangement make sense?
|
| My main concern is having a system that can be backed up easily, as a
| regular precaution, and fixed easily should something happen. I've been
| told that a separate partition for the OS is preferable because then a
| reinstall is easier.
|
| And while I'm asking, which Linux should I get? One Linux app I'm
| interested in is Asterisk http://www.asterisk.org/ .
|
| And one more question. When I install a program on the document-program
| partition, should I make it put its common files on that partition too?
| Or should I allow the program to put its common files on C:\Program
| Files\Common Files , the usual default place?
|
| --
| *********************
| * Nehmo Sergheyev *
| *********************
|
|


  #3  
Old October 5th 04, 04:49 PM
Stephen Austin
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

It's not THAT hard to setup partitions so that you can install linux &
windows on the same drive. Especially now that recent versions of various
bootloaders don't need to be installed in the first 1024 cylinders.

On Tue, 5 Oct 2004 09:22:54 -0600, Harry Ohrn wrote:

You are better off having Linux on a separate drive. During Linux
installation it requires 3 partitions of it's own and it can really screw
with a drive if you don't know what you are doing during setup. An
alternative to installing Linux, if you just want to get a feel for it
would
be to use Knoppix or MandrakeMove. Both are self-contained Linux distros
that are run entirely off a CD. To play with Linux you simply reboot with
the CD and it runs without affecting your Hard drive. You can set it up
so
that you can work with files on a drive if you so desire. Knoppix enables
you to save your configurations to a floppy so you don't have to
reconfigure
everytime you run it. MandrakeMove can save your special configuration
to a
USB key.

http://www.knoppix.net/docs/

http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/mandrakemove


  #4  
Old October 5th 04, 05:25 PM
Nehmo Sergheyev
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

- Harry Ohrn -
You are better off having Linux on a separate drive. During Linux
installation it requires 3 partitions of it's own and it can really

screw
with a drive if you don't know what you are doing during setup. An
alternative to installing Linux, if you just want to get a feel for it

would
be to use Knoppix or MandrakeMove. Both are self-contained Linux

distros
that are run entirely off a CD. To play with Linux you simply reboot

with
the CD and it runs without affecting your Hard drive. You can set it

up so
that you can work with files on a drive if you so desire. Knoppix

enables
you to save your configurations to a floppy so you don't have to

reconfigure
everytime you run it. MandrakeMove can save your special configuration

to a
USB key.
http://www.knoppix.net/docs/
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/mandrakemove
Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


- Nehmo -
Well, I want to get a feel for Linux, but I also want to go beyond that
and have it permanently. So you're saying I should devote a whole
physical drive to Linux? What would you do in my situation? Clean out
the 80 GB drive too? I suppose I could.


--
*********************
* Nehmo Sergheyev *
*********************


  #5  
Old October 5th 04, 05:32 PM
Dave C.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Nehmo Sergheyev" wrote in message
...
I'm setting up a new boot drive of 120 GB (and I'm also going to have an
80 GB, but there's already stuff on that), and I intend to use XP Home
as my main OS. But I also want to learn this Linux thing I've been
hearing about, so I want to make a separate partition for that.

So what's the best way to partition the 120 GB HD? I assume three
partitions:
one for the XP OS,
one for Linux, and
one for documents and programs? Should this be separated into two
partitions?


Linux doesn't need much room. If you set aside 5GB for it, you'll probably
use less than half of that, even with all linux software you want to use
installed. Linux will play nice with Windows if you install Windows first.

I'd suggest:

Install Windows XP, but when it creates partitions, create two partitions.
If your disk was exactly 120GB (it will show up as less than that during
partition creation), then I'd suggest 110GB for Windows, 5GB for Windows
swap file and 5GB NOT partitioned at all. Whatever the actual size of your
hard drive is when you run the partition program, just subtract about
11000MB, and use whatever's left to create a partition to install windows
on. Then create a second partition of about 5000MB for a window swap file.
That should leave about ~6000MB of unpartitioned space on your hard drive.
(linux will be happy to use that)

After Windows XP is fully installed, tested, and running fine, THEN install
linux. (I'd suggest Mandrake linux or redhat fedora) During the linux
install, you will need to create at least two partitions including a linux
swap partition. The linux swap file only needs to be about 500MB, so that
will leave plenty of space for other partitions. Obviously, when you are
creating your linux partitions, you should use the previously UNpartitioned
space on your 120GB drive.

In case you are worried about storing large files downloaded or created in
linux, you should keep in mind that linux will mount windows partitions
automatically. Thus you will have a mostly empty windows partition to use
for storage space in linux. Or you can use any free space there is on the
80GB drive you are recycling.

During the linux install, a boot menu will be set up that will allow you to
choose which OS you want to boot.

Whether you experiment with linux or not, you might want to get yourself a
DVDR/W drive and a image program like Ghost or similar (I use acronis true
image). With Windows and all software installed correctly, I am able to
back up my entire hard drive on two DVD-Rom disks. You won't likely have a
problem with linux, but it's good to have a backup anyway. -Dave


  #6  
Old October 5th 04, 06:19 PM
J. Clarke
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Nehmo Sergheyev wrote:

- Harry Ohrn -
You are better off having Linux on a separate drive. During Linux
installation it requires 3 partitions of it's own and it can really

screw
with a drive if you don't know what you are doing during setup. An
alternative to installing Linux, if you just want to get a feel for it

would
be to use Knoppix or MandrakeMove. Both are self-contained Linux

distros
that are run entirely off a CD. To play with Linux you simply reboot

with
the CD and it runs without affecting your Hard drive. You can set it

up so
that you can work with files on a drive if you so desire. Knoppix

enables
you to save your configurations to a floppy so you don't have to

reconfigure
everytime you run it. MandrakeMove can save your special configuration

to a
USB key.
http://www.knoppix.net/docs/
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/mandrakemove
Harry Ohrn MS-MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


- Nehmo -
Well, I want to get a feel for Linux, but I also want to go beyond that
and have it permanently. So you're saying I should devote a whole
physical drive to Linux? What would you do in my situation? Clean out
the 80 GB drive too? I suppose I could.


If your primary OS is Windows XP and you just want to dink around with Unix
(note--Linux is just one flavor of Unix--if you can drive one flavor of
Unix you can generally figure out another one without too much trouble) a
little, then install Cygwin http://www.cygwin.com--you can get a very
good feel for it and at the same time use its capabilities in conjunction
with Windows. If you want to go a little deeper, then pay Microsoft the
hundred bucks for Virtual PC and then install whatever flavor of Unix you
like on the virtual machine. Works far better than one would expect.

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
  #7  
Old October 5th 04, 06:23 PM
Matt
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Nehmo Sergheyev wrote:
I'm setting up a new boot drive of 120 GB (and I'm also going to have an
80 GB, but there's already stuff on that), and I intend to use XP Home
as my main OS. But I also want to learn this Linux thing I've been
hearing about, so I want to make a separate partition for that.


If you have something like a Dell, where XP is already installed and you
have trouble reducing its partition size, it is somewhat simpler to have
Linux on a separate drive. Otherwise it can go on the same drive as
Windows. Since you have lots of room, I would give 10G or more to
Linux, but you could get by on as little as 600M for some standard Linux
distributions. A regular 8G Linux partition plus a 2G Linux swap
partition is very comfortable and sufficient for a newby. But you might
make a few 2G partitions here and there for when you learn the
tradeoffs: it is common for /home and /usr/local to have their own
partitions because that simplifies reinstallation and reorganization,
and often /var is put on a separate partition. There are somewhat
obscure ways to share a swap partition between Linux and Windows. Since
you are experimenting, you might try out each of the big three distros:
Fedora Core, SUSE, and Mandrake. I have had the least trouble with
Fedora. Also when you learn how, you can have several Linux systems
present simultaneously, each sharing the same /home and /usr/local.
  #8  
Old October 5th 04, 06:23 PM
wayneP
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Nehmo,

There is another alternative from Linspire (a.k.a Lindows). This is a
simple setup and rather 'mickey mouse' for the true Linux user, but on
the other hand it is very straight forward and gives you the opportunity
to play around with Linux.

I have XP Pro setup on my primary HDD and I just let Linspire do its
thing on the secondary HDD. Linspire does setup as the primary boot when
booting up, but that isn't a big deal.

There had been a deal on www.linspire.com. Somewhere in the ordering
process you will be able to enter a coupon code ( deviant9 ) which will
then give you a credit for the purchase price. I'm not sure if the deal
is still available, but I took advantage of it 2 weeks ago. You also get
a 15 day subscription to their software library.

Wayne

Dave C. wrote:
"Nehmo Sergheyev" wrote in message
...

I'm setting up a new boot drive of 120 GB (and I'm also going to have an
80 GB, but there's already stuff on that), and I intend to use XP Home
as my main OS. But I also want to learn this Linux thing I've been
hearing about, so I want to make a separate partition for that.

So what's the best way to partition the 120 GB HD? I assume three
partitions:
one for the XP OS,
one for Linux, and
one for documents and programs? Should this be separated into two
partitions?



Linux doesn't need much room. If you set aside 5GB for it, you'll probably
use less than half of that, even with all linux software you want to use
installed. Linux will play nice with Windows if you install Windows first.

I'd suggest:

Install Windows XP, but when it creates partitions, create two partitions.
If your disk was exactly 120GB (it will show up as less than that during
partition creation), then I'd suggest 110GB for Windows, 5GB for Windows
swap file and 5GB NOT partitioned at all. Whatever the actual size of your
hard drive is when you run the partition program, just subtract about
11000MB, and use whatever's left to create a partition to install windows
on. Then create a second partition of about 5000MB for a window swap file.
That should leave about ~6000MB of unpartitioned space on your hard drive.
(linux will be happy to use that)

After Windows XP is fully installed, tested, and running fine, THEN install
linux. (I'd suggest Mandrake linux or redhat fedora) During the linux
install, you will need to create at least two partitions including a linux
swap partition. The linux swap file only needs to be about 500MB, so that
will leave plenty of space for other partitions. Obviously, when you are
creating your linux partitions, you should use the previously UNpartitioned
space on your 120GB drive.

In case you are worried about storing large files downloaded or created in
linux, you should keep in mind that linux will mount windows partitions
automatically. Thus you will have a mostly empty windows partition to use
for storage space in linux. Or you can use any free space there is on the
80GB drive you are recycling.

During the linux install, a boot menu will be set up that will allow you to
choose which OS you want to boot.

Whether you experiment with linux or not, you might want to get yourself a
DVDR/W drive and a image program like Ghost or similar (I use acronis true
image). With Windows and all software installed correctly, I am able to
back up my entire hard drive on two DVD-Rom disks. You won't likely have a
problem with linux, but it's good to have a backup anyway. -Dave



  #9  
Old October 5th 04, 06:43 PM
SlowJet
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Nehmo,

Thse guys are from the 90's and haven a clue.

It is a pain in the butt to make XP share a disk drive with another OS. Most
recommedations say to place Linux first and then other windows OS's but XP
must be on a second disk. Not worth the effort.

Do this ...

Install XP on the 120 GB, and partition it with a C: of 40 GB.

After, unplug the cables and hook to the 80 and install Linux. I recommend
the Gentoo CD's (a stage 3) because you can install over 4,000 apps from
their sites auto magically.
On the 80 GB drive install a 512 MB DOS 6.22 partition, flowwed by the setup
of Linux with SWAP of 1 GB, EXT3 of 4GB, and one each of the high performace
file systems of 4 GB each. You can play with them and place some database or
image data on them and get fell for how they work.

When you want to do XP just switch cables back to 120GB drive and boot up.

P.S. I you get a hot swap disk tray, it can be as simple as changing a CD.

SJ

And I don't want to here about boot loaders. Yeah it can be done but you can
go crazy studying that crap.

"Nehmo Sergheyev" wrote in message
...
I'm setting up a new boot drive of 120 GB (and I'm also going to have an
80 GB, but there's already stuff on that), and I intend to use XP Home
as my main OS. But I also want to learn this Linux thing I've been
hearing about, so I want to make a separate partition for that.

So what's the best way to partition the 120 GB HD? I assume three
partitions:
one for the XP OS,
one for Linux, and
one for documents and programs? Should this be separated into two
partitions?

How much space should I allocate for each partition? And does this
arrangement make sense?

My main concern is having a system that can be backed up easily, as a
regular precaution, and fixed easily should something happen. I've been
told that a separate partition for the OS is preferable because then a
reinstall is easier.

And while I'm asking, which Linux should I get? One Linux app I'm
interested in is Asterisk http://www.asterisk.org/ .

And one more question. When I install a program on the document-program
partition, should I make it put its common files on that partition too?
Or should I allow the program to put its common files on C:\Program
Files\Common Files , the usual default place?

--
*********************
* Nehmo Sergheyev *
*********************




  #10  
Old October 5th 04, 07:07 PM
Matt
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

SlowJet wrote:

Thse guys are from the 90's and haven a clue.


When you want to do XP just switch cables back to 120GB drive and boot up.


Oh, now the scales drop from my eyes. It sounds like you are very much
on the cutting edge. Yeah, back in the day we had to select the OS from
a boot menu---I gather that now we can just power down, open the case
and switch cables. Well, it pays to keep up on new techniques ...
 




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