Partition Magic and Mandrake Install.

[nooyawkah]

bought a new 80GB hdd (ok, it's a Maxtor so it's only 76GB). I got WIN XP up and working, using an NTFS format. Then I asked Partition Magic 7.0 to 1) change the "C" drive size from 76GB to 66GB 2) create a new 10GB partition for a Linux OS 3) use the next "logical" drive letter for the new partition, which would be "D."

Partiation Magic recognizes the drive as "Linux Ext2" without a drive letter. It calls it a logical drive and it's status is NONE as opposed to ACTIVE.
(When I first used PM it told me that Linux must be installed to that type of drive).

What I have now is a 66GB "C" drive. My "D" and "E" are still CD drives. Where oh where has the new partition gone? How do I install Linux on a non-existant drive letter?

[mdwatts]

Linux does not use drive letters as it uses filesystems.

Nothing to worry about.

There are no versions of Windows that can recognize Linux filesystems, hence the ext2 partition not getting a drive letter.

[nooyawkah]

Great info, I feel better. I've never used Linux before. I assume that when I install it, it will know where to go. Once it's installed, how could I boot to it?

[Sastraxi]

It'll install its own bootloader (GRUB or LILO, since you're 'new' I would suggest LILO graphical) onto the primary drive. It will then find the Windows partition and let you link it. After that, you'll get Mandrake's LILO screen, and will be able to boot into Linux or Windows from there :)