partition

[Rado45]

Hi

I'm just gonna build a new computer and I think I'm going for a triple win2k, win98SE, linux boot.
Well I'm gonna try at least
Hard disk is a IBM 75 GXP 45gb.

Question : how should I partition my harddrive (FDISK) ?
I'm thinking each OS a partition with one extra partition for apps. I'm using the computer for a variety of games, educational software and programming.

So first I need to partition (size is equal for win98SE and for Win2k max is 4gb I think)
Then install Win98SE, then W2k and after that linux(don't know which distribution yet, probably SUSE 7.0).

Any comments? : I'm new at the dual boot thing (and definitely triple) so any advice is welcome.

 

[DAM]

heres my partition, 2 hds


20 gig:

c(primary): win98se 8 gigs
d(experimental): linux/beos 5 gigs
e(apps): apps for win98se 6 gigs
h(backup): backups 2 gigs

10 gig:

f(win2k): all win2k all the time 10 gigs




dam()

 

[Rado45]

thanks for the reply,

when I've setup my computer, do I first partition the harddisk or is it possible to do this after you've already instaled an OS.

oh yeah, duh, how do exactly partition a harddisk ? (I heard it was something with FDISK but I'm not sure)

 

[TomBilliodeaux]

So you want to make life complicated:

Search this site for "partition". Some very good replies on this topic may be available.


Be aware that W2K will share info on the C: drive that W98 must reside.
Some have run into problems because of this sharing and have eventually elected to use W2k exclusively. I use W98 only for a few functions that W2k doesn't do yet. All applications generally run thru W2k only.

I have found it is best to keep the os seperate from everything else (ie, have 2 partitions for each o/s.)

If you plan to share applications with 98 and W2k, keep your partitions FAT32 format. You then can share the application partition with both but you will still have to install thru each o/s to that partition.

I partitioned my 30G as such for booting 98,W2k,LinuxRH7.0


First make a small (2.0G) C: partition Fdisk is very easy to use. you will select 1 of the options to make a primary partition.
Then select option to make an extended partion with logical drives. Make as many as you want. I suggest that at this point you make at least 2 partitions and install W98 on the primary. Don't install any applications until your o/s are installed.

Next install W2K. W2k will change the boot menu (that you can edit to read whatever you like the menu to say) and allow you to select which o/s to boot whenever you start your computer.
The formating will come after the partitions are made.

Also:
Text
Search Microsoft's NT Magazine Online article "Win2K+98+LINux multiboot problems" posted by ludas on 8/19,2000Mulitple win/98/linux boot.

 

[Rado45]

thanks for the great help there TomB,

OK here's the plan :
before I install anything

I have a total of 45 gb (1HD)

C: 4gb win98
D: 8gb win2000
E: 4gb linux (too little?)
F: 10 gb data
G: 5 gb backup and MP3's ?
H: apps for Linux (?)

question : should I only install apps on 1 partition(data) or is it OK to install a program on C that I use in Win98 (maybe win2000 too).

 

[DAM]

I have a total of 45 gb (1HD)

C: 4gb win98
D: 8gb win2000
E: 4gb linux (too little?)
F: 10 gb data
G: 5 gb backup and MP3's ?
H: apps for Linux (?)


heres what i would do:

c: 4 gb win98se
D: 10 gb win2k
E: 4 gb linux (thats enough dont go install crazy, it will take you forever to mess around with all the goodies most distros have)
F: 12 gb data/programs/mp3s etc etc
G: 8 gb backup, backup backup
h: beos? spread it around



dam()

 

[sciencewhiz]

Ahem... check the link in SUOrangeman's sig.

or you can click here (since he seems to be slow today )

Make sure you install win 98 first.

 

[DocDoo]

STOP!:Q

If you want to speed up this partition/format process AND since you will be using the IBM GXP.... use IBM's Drive Guide. Drive Guide creates a boot disk, and really speeds up the partition/format process.

When I used it (on my 75GXP-30) it finished my 3 partitions soo fast that I thought... nothing happened

 

[M]

Of course, you might wanna be careful around the 1024th cylinder thing. That is, for an OS to boot reliably, it's partition must reside below the 1024th cylinder (in the first 8GB of a disk). I do know, however, that some versions of linux can overcome this, and I believe so can some other OSs, however I'm not aware of any specifics, and as such I'd definitely recommend that you put all your OS partitions in the first 8GB of the disk.

Also, most OS partitions need only be tiny. Particularly with UNIX(esque) OS', the location of OS essential stuff is highly modular, so you can mount stuff to other drives quite easily (for instance, have a small / partition, and a larger, seperate /usr partition). I'd use 2gb per windows OS, and 2-3GB for linux.

As a third point of interest, it's my understanding that BIOSen limit the amount of primary partitions per hard disk to 4. If so, this could cause you trouble, in that you'll need at least one primary partition for each of your OSs. I really am not entirely sure whether this is truly a problem anymore though, so I'd check with someone else first. SUO's _great_ partitioning guide (as mentioned in the last post) I think has something on this...

Last of all, good luck, and may you enjoy your adventures.

 

[Rado45]

wow, I'm gonna read some of this stuff through before I go through with this, that IBM guide will be handy too.
thanks for all the input, guys.

Oh yeah, funny thing is : SUOrangeman apparently did get an elite status, he started the thread that sciencewhiz linked with "I think I'm going for Elite Member status on this one."