Win ME & SlackWare Linux

[xs411]

I want to Dual boot Linux and Win ME. What is the best way to go about this. I want to know about partition sizes and which OS I should install first. Also, what do I use to dual boot and how? I'm assuming LILO, but I don't know exactly how to go about it. So far I have installed Linux with a 256 MB swap partition. I left about 3 gig for /home and 2 gig for /

Any help would be great

Thanks,
xs411

[bdl]

Usually it's best to install any version of Windows before Linux, due to the fact that it always overwrites the boot sector anyway, so you may as well get it over with ahead of time. Let's break a 10gb hdd into suitable chunks for a dual boot system:

/dev/hda1: primary: 5gb win : type '0C'
/dev/hda5: logical: 256mb swap : type 82
/dev/hda6: logical: 500mb / : type 83
/dev/hda7: logical: 500mb /var : type 83
/dev/hda8: logical: 1gb /home : type 83
/dev/hda9: logical: 2.7gb /usr: type 83

This should give you an idea of how to best allocate space for a Linux install. The root partition need only be 200 or so mb but if you have the room, add a little more. I always create a seperate '/var' partition for security purposes and suggest you do the same. The '/home' and '/usr' partitions should be the largest you create, depending on how much software you plan to install and how many files you need to keep in your home directory. Remember you can always share the space on your windows partition. I'd recommend erasing your partition table altogether before you do any installs, just to be on the safe side. You should be able to do this with your Linux install disks, and then partition the drive with Linux 'fdisk' or 'cfdisk'. Create the above listed partitions within the Linux installer, then reboot and boot with a win cd or bootdisk. Format the 'c' drive and install win, then once that's done, reboot with the Linux install disks again, this time installing Linux and lilo to the MBR, which will allow you to control the boot process and choose between win and Linux at startup. Enjoy!

to wipe the partition table:

linuxprompt# dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda bs=512 count=1


to wipe the drive:

linuxprompt# dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda


[edited below this line]

I forgot to mention, if you install KDE with Slack, it expects to stick in in '/opt' which can get a bit messy if you have a small root partition. You'll wind up running out of room on a default install and have to start all over again. If you install KDE, either create a seperate 600mb or so '/opt' partition or just make root a little larger to compensate for this. Luck!

[ 12 April 2001: Message edited by: bdl ]

[knaapie]

For partitioning of the linux bit of your system, you might also want to have a loko at the NHF (http://www.linuxnewbie.org/nhf/intel/installation/partition/multi_partition.html)