Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : XP/Multi-HDD/Manrake 9.0 Questions


LizardKing9476
09-30-2002, 07:25 PM
:confused:
OK, here's the deal. I have a Windows XP (Home) system set out as follows:
15G HDD partitioned to C: (5G), E: (Windows, 10G)
20G HDD single partitioned Primary Slave (G:)

I am now adding a 2.5Gb HDD as the Secondary Slave, so I can test Linux, my remaining UNIX knowledge, and the software I'm writing at home in a non-Windows environment. I want to use Mandrake 9.0, as I've read these forums and it seems a good one for newbie.

Now for the questions:
1 - Is there anything I need to do to prep the third HDD? It's a second-hand drive, so I'll need to format it/defragment or whatever, but is there any special way it should be done, or can I do it as part of the loader?
2 - Should I go about getting a new boot selector, or will Lilo come with Mandrake and be fine? I hear mixed reports, along the lines of 'It's powerful enough' compared to 'It's difficult to use'.
3 - Considering I'm a newbie (but not a complete idiot, I mean I build my own systems and write software for a living), is there any messing about when I boot up? I mean, I just want a 'Press one for Linux, or 2 for XP' type interface. Preferably all set up as part of the install.
4 - Will I need to watch out for any funny business from XP? All the posts I've read are talking about partitions on a single HDD, but I'm not sure if it's the same situation for a tertiary drive.

Thanks guys - I realise I've sunk several orders of magnitude into newbiedom just asking this, but I've had enough trouble with this system already - if I screw it up now, the missus will kill me....:D

ntt.
10-01-2002, 09:01 AM
Nope - you won't have to do anything to the hard disk - it can be unformatted or whatever. As it's the secondary slave, it will be /dev/hdd - so when you boot into the Mandrake install it will ask you where you want to put Mandrake. Choose hdd.

In fact, I'v just been through most of what I'm telling you in my article - here, have a sneak preview (http://ghj.sunsite.dk/index.php?1=articles/2/linux_first_steps.html&article=1)

That should answer all your questions!

LizardKing9476
10-02-2002, 05:49 PM
The article looks great. Having read the section about hda, hdb etc, can I ask if that relates to the IDE slots, or just to the hard disks?
For example, I will have 3 separate HDDs (one of which is in two partitions), so that would make it hdc, but it is the secondary slave, which would make it hdd as you suggest.

Sorry, just trying to clarify.

Thanks again!:D