Multi Platform computer???

[Sicnus]

ok i have a 400mhz 160mb ram, 20gb HD, with windows 98, i want to put linux on it cause i have a really slow comp with linux on it, so i want to have linux on my good computer. now, what do i need to know to do this? i know hwo to install but will i have a like a 10gb windows 98 partition or a 10gb linux partition? and like i have tons of mp3's on my windowscomp, can i access those using linux? and with say musicmatch, will i have to install a linux and windows version?

[Bokkenka]

Originally posted by Sicnus:
<STRONG>..what do i need to know to [dual-boot]?</STRONG>

First, you need space on your drive to install Linux. If you already have Windows installed, and it takes up the whole hard-drive, you will either need a program that can shrink existing partitions, like Partition Magic, or you will need to delete the Windows partition and create a new, smaller partition for it.

My standard simple suggestion on partitioning is...
2gb fat-32 partition for the Windows system & programs
#gb fat-32 partition for Win files & mp3s & downloads & whatnot.
1gb ext2 partition for Linux /
500mb ext2 partition for Linux /home
250mb swap partition for Linux


This will be more than adequate for a single-user system. If you plan on installing lots of Linux programs, you can bump / up to 1.5 or 2gb. If you will have several different users, you can bump home up to 1gb. The second fat-32 partition is whatever is left over, about 16gb in your case.

So, you would need to shrink the current Windows partition, or delete and create a new one. Then, create a second Windows partition. Re-install Windows, if need be. Then, install Linux. You will run through a partitioner during the installation.

<STRONG>...i have tons of mp3's on my windowscomp, can i access those using linux?</STRONG>

Oh, yeah... I forgot about those... If you really have a lot, you'll have to do something to free up space to install Linux. Burn them to a cd, if you can, or use Partition Magic to shrink the partition, and hopefully not lose them.

But, yes, you can get to them with Linux. It's called "mounting" a partition. You just tell Linux which partition to mount and where you want to access it, usually something like "/mnt/win", or "/mnt/docs". If you install Linux second, it will usually create entries in the needed config files to be able to automatically mount the Windows partitions. If you store all the shared files on a Windows partition, you can get them with either OS.

<STRONG>...and with say musicmatch, will i have to install a linux and windows version?</STRONG>

Pretty much, yes... There are emulators and whatnot to run some Windows programs, but I've found they aren't too usable yet. So, you will need equivalent software to run on Linux.

Search through the messages or the 'net for more info on dual-booting.

[Sicnus]

will i loose any data shrinking it? and why can't i just do like a 50:50 or 60:40 thing , cause i am going to want to try and get apache to work, but linux will be mostly just to experiment so i can use apache and make a dedicated server for counter strike.

[sans-hubris]

Originally posted by Sicnus:
<STRONG>will i loose any data shrinking it? and why can't i just do like a 50:50 or 60:40 thing , cause i am going to want to try and get apache to work, but linux will be mostly just to experiment so i can use apache and make a dedicated server for counter strike.</STRONG>
You will lose data if you do not defragment your Windows partition. Otherwise, you should have no problem shrinking your Windows partition. The partitions can be sized however you wish them to be sized.

[Bokkenka]

Originally posted by Sicnus:
<STRONG>will i loose any data shrinking it?</STRONG>

Usually not... If you use a good program. Of course, everytime you change the partition table of a drive, there is the chance something might go wrong, and no program can guarantee that it won't happen. So, back up if you can.

<STRONG>...and why can't i just do like a 50:50 or 60:40....</STRONG>

Sure, you can part it up anyway you want. I was just giving a suggestion to allow a great deal of storage that is visible to both OSs.

And, as Muad Dib wrote, be sure to get your drive ready first... Delete anything you don't want to keep, empty the recycle bin, and defrag. A scandisk, too, wouldn't hurt.