Yet another partition question

[supanewbie]

I didn't see anything that addressed this specific question in a way i was sure about, so...here we go...i have a win98se system and i want to install rh linux 7.0. My drives look like so: c is 5 gig (1st hdd), with win98 on it, d is 10 gig (2nd hdd), e is 5 gig (1st hdd), f is 3 gig (1st hdd), g is 10 gig (2nd hdd), h is 10 gig (2nd hdd). all drives are fat32. i want to install linux on the "d" partition. how do i go about doing this? if you could break it down "newbie style" for me i'd appreciate it. i don't want to lose the data on my drives...TIA

[Kadesh]

Normally I'd scream "Go search for it" but I suppose I'll answer.

You need to split D: into the following partitions: an 8MB mounted as '/boot', a 128MB Linux Swap (swap is not mounted and must have its own partition), and the rest mounted as '/'.

If you want to be absolutely safe and comfortable, use Partition Magic. Just delete the D drive and make the above partitions. There is a shareware version of PM somewhere, don't know the main site though :( .

[supanewbie]

I appreciate your answer...i figured i'd get flamed but my response is that i've searched for it (both here and the net) and didn't find anything that i knew was the answer to my question. I don't know anything about linux (hence the name "supanewbie")but i want to give it a whack..thx

[willk]

Before you do anything make sure you have good DOS bootdisk make sure fdisk.exe is on it.
If you know how to set your BIOS to boot from the CD...do so. If not go to the DOS Utils on the CD read the readme...make a boot disk.
Start your install. RH is the most straight forward as far as my experience..and RH7 the easiest.
Take the option of partioning with disk drake. For yer first go at this don't try anything fancy like tring to make your WIn stuff mountable.
Ignore anything that sez hda.
hdb is yer only concern.
make boot partition of 5-10 MB I always say ten. It wont be exactly what you tell it...not to worry...that's another lesson.
make a swap that is twice the size of your physical RAM.
then make a root ( / ) partition. use the option of "use remaining space."
Thats as simple as one can make it.
Install the workstation.
Choose "make a boot disk"
Install LILO to MBR.
(if for some reason things got skewed...the MBR can be fixed...boot with your DOS disk and "fdisk /mbr"...all is as it was.)
If you are really nervous about win...disconnect the primary hd set the jumpers on your secondary to master and install that way.
Good Luck! and Welcome Home!
btw...this ain't rocket science....

[supanewbie]

thanx for the help!! i'm going to give it a go this weekend...wish me luck! :)