dumb reinstall question

[gildedpage]

Hello-
I have linux installed on a second harddrive. Here is my df output:

Filesystem Size Used Available Mnt

/dev/hdb5 1.4G 994M 413M 71% /

/dev/hda1 9.0G 1.6G 7.4G 17% /mnt/DOS_hda1

/dev/hda5 2.2G 859M 1.4G37% /mnt/DOS_hda5

/dev/hdb1 14M 830k 13M 6% /boot

/dev/hdb7 17G 50M 16G 0% /home

My question is, if I want to reinstall linux, how do I get it to install on the correct drive? I know if I just pop in a cd and install, it will install overtop of my precious windows partition. I'm not ready to go into sink or swim mode just yet.
Thanks,
SW

[ 29 April 2001: Message edited by: gildedpage ]

[ 29 April 2001: Message edited by: gildedpage ]

[Antho]

If I get you correctly, you don't want two instances of Linux on your machine but just reinstall Linux. If you use one of the more user freindly distros, just boot up the install CD and when it comes to partioning erase and recreate your Linux partion with disk druid (or whatever) a lot of distros will give you an install summarry before actually installing so you can make sure its installing on the correct partition.

I'm deliriously tired right now so if there was any misunderstanding on my part or if I was no use , forgive me... :)

[X_console]

You may not even have to repartition. If you're satisfied with the way it's partition, you can leave it as it is. Linux distributions normally format the partitions designated for Linux before installing new software.

[gildedpage]

I have Mandrake 7.0 and I'm thinking about installing 8.0 instead. One of the main reasons I want to do this is to repartition my hard drive so I can have seperate /usr/ and /var/ partitions (my / partition is too small and includes /usr/) and since I haven't gotten to the point that I have anything of value on the system yet, and Ive heard good stuff about Mandrake 8.0, I thought I might as well just do a new install. One of the biggest problems I've had is rpm dependencies and I've heard that 8.0 is some how much better with this. Anyone know if that's true?
Thanks and get some sleep,
SW