Linux Installation- Now What!

[Tuzinor]

This is really aggravating me.Installing Linux-Mandrake 7.2 Complete.Have had it up and running.It is installed on the first partition on my second hard drive-(/dev/hdf).Originally installed the bootloader during installation to MBR.It installed Grub as the bootloader-although the bootdisk was Lilo.Was able to get into Linux then edit Grub to accomodate the ATA 100 controller.Installed my other hard drives-using System Commander to boot-works fine for Windows & BeOS-no luck with Linux-decided to install again as per instructions from others here and elsewhere-used the other choice instead of MBR during installation for the bootloader.Now when I try to get back into Linux either via Grub or the Lilo bootdisk it starts up then asks "Enter Run Level"- I did not get this before-what the hell is going on now? I didn't do anything different than when I had this up and running before-I know I am new to Linux but this is getting very tedious!When setting up the partitions what should be the very first partition- /boot or / ? Using the following partitions: /,/boot/swap,/usr,/home,/tmp,/var.
HELP! Dave
:mad:

[ndelo]

If this is your first shot at Linux, your best bet would be two partitions-- /swap and /. That's all you need to get a running setup.

[f'lar]

First partition of your second harddrive would be /dev/hdb1. I agree that the first time use the kiss principle with partitons and keep it to a simple swap and / partitions. Haven't used BeOS, so I don't know which bootmanager works best for that, but for myself I prefer loadlin.

[Ig0r]

They only reason you'd need to use multiple ext2 partitions would be for special needs.
Normally you'd only need a / partition, on which everything would go.

I have an extra /home partition so that even if I have to reinstall everything, the user data/configs aren't lost.

[bdg1983]

When asked to enter runlevel, try entering '3' for commandline or '5' to boot to GUI.

Here's a NHF on Booting to GUI and runlevels.

http://www.linuxnewbie.org/nhf/intel/x-windows/guiboot.html

If '5' allows the GUI to boot properly, then change the runlevel in /etc/inittab as specified in the NHF.

[musthavemuzk]

just curious.
was it a pain to get your ata 100 controller card to work?
i removed mine before i installed RH7. i did not want any problems. i mean it has been a whopping 3 days since i installed RH. so this whole thing is so new. exciting yet new.