Stop me before I do something stupid (RH 7.3 & WinXP)

[BrownieInMotion]

I've been lurking for a few days, but this is my first post.

I'm considering installing Red Hat 7.3. (Yes, it's from the Dummies book.) I have Windows XP, but only just got it to install the other day. I was planning to reformat my HDD, make two partitions with fdisk, reinstall XP, and then install RH.

I'm a complete Linux newb. I don't work or play in IT so I'm still learning to use the words "partition" and "fdisk" in a sentence. :) I've been reading what I can, but it's a bit confusing. Basically I want to be aware of as many pitfalls as possible before doing this (i.e., if XP hates 7.3 more than most).

The main thing I'm worried about right now is my hardware. I have a Dell 8100 bought in Jan. 2001. I've checked the hardware compatibility pages on the RH website, but haven't seen some of my components there (or at least, the versions I have). Is there somewhere else I can look? Or should I just hold my nose and jump in?

I'm also wondering about how to partition the hard drive. Do I make two partitions, or just make one for XP and let the RH installation take up the rest of the drive? How much of my 40GB drive should I give to each OS?

Any help/advice is appreciated. Just talk real slow. :D

[slapNUT]

Unfortunately RedHat7.3 is probably not the best distro for a Linux/XP cooexistance if NTFS is involved. But at the worse you will need to install a ntfs.o rpm so you can read stuff on the ntfs partition if you just have to read stuff on the ntfs partition.

As for partitions, make it easy on yourself the first time and create just two partitions. You decide how to split the Giga bites but give Linux at least 5 - 10 if you can spare it. Install Linux on the second partition mounted as /. You'll learn as you go and eventually you'll want mount certain directories on their own separate partitions.

As for the hardware, I would suspect RedHat-7.3 will do just fine. You bought that computer nearly 2 years ago and 7.3 is only one release back for redhat so you should be fine.

PS Install Windows first then RedHat. RedHat will setup the bootloader to Dual boot automatically.

[El_Cu_Guy]

DO NOT create a partition for linux. This is usually where newbies make the biggest mistake. Decide how much space you want to give to each OS. If you want to have only the linux distro and Windows installed and install any NTFS drivers later then do this.

1. Decide how much space on the hard disk (not drive) you want to use for each OS. When installing Windows use the partitioning tool to create any partitions/drives you want for Windows (just one or maybe two to help with organisation). These will be used by Windows.

2. Leave the rest of the disk unpartitioned. When you install Linux this will be taken care of. You can opt to let the installer used the rest of the disk to set up partitions or you can opt to create the partitions using an included utility within the installer (ie Disk Druid).

If you choose to use Disk Druid you can also create a FAT partition to swap data locally between the two OSes.

Some distros have trouble labeling the other OS propoerly. I can remember installing RH7.1 only to have the see LiLo with Linux and OS/2. The Windows partition was formatted using NTFS.

[BrownieInMotion]

Thanks for the responses!

Unfortunately RedHat7.3 is probably not the best distro for a Linux/XP cooexistance if NTFS is involved. But at the worse you will need to install a ntfs.o rpm so you can read stuff on the ntfs partition if you just have to read stuff on the ntfs partition.

Is 8.0 better for getting along with XP? I'm thinking I can get my feet wet with 7.3, then possibly upgrade later. I guess I could install XP with a FAT32 filesystem instead of NTFS, though I'm not exactly sure what the practical difference is. (I read in another thread that you can't write to files on the other OS if they're NTFS, so maybe FAT32 is better in this case?)

If you choose to use Disk Druid you can also create a FAT partition to swap data locally between the two OSes.

Does my XP install have to be FAT for this to work?

[iandemace]

Hello, well I?m almost in the same boat as you, except that I?m using another HD on the computer. After shutdown I just unplug the IDE cable and swap drives.
Not sure if this is the right thing to do but at least XP won?t know about...
I?d like to watch this forum closely if I may. I have a lot to learn.
Regards
Ian

[orangedi]

why NTFS anyway. i would install xp in fat32. does anybody really notice the improved security and speed from ntfs. i just notice the fact that i get errors in reading and can't even think about writing to it. consider the fat32 option when you install XP if you want to freely read/write to it. i wish i had because there is no reasonable way to convert ntfs to fat32 later

[El_Cu_Guy]

BrownieInMotion --

Does my XP install have to be FAT for this to work?

Duh, NO! You are creating a SEPARATE partition. It can be used to swap data between the OSes. Copy data from your NTFS partition/drive (the one where you installed Windoze) and copy it to the FAT (or FAT32) partition. This partition will show up as just another drive in Windows. That's what partitions are, drives. That's why people should not use the term disk and drive synonymously (to mean the same thing). And no it not an issue of semantics.

I recommend adding this volume during or after the Linux install. Otherwise your bootloader may have an entry for a non-existing OS. Simply edit LiLo or GRUB if that happens.

iandemace--

Yes your option is retarded. They do make devices in which you plug the HDD into and select which one you use at a given time simply by turning a key or pressing a button.

orangedi--

i would install xp in fat32. does anybody really notice the improved security and speed from ntfs.

Let me guess, you've never read any solid information regarding the increase security options behind choosing NTFS have you?

NTFS (basic rundown):

unicode filesystem
64bit +journaling
Encrypted File System (EFS)
read/write to compressed files/volumes
Native Mac fs support
Disk quotas
No reboot after creating or expanding volumes/partitions (using disk manager)
supports larger volume and file sizes
and more...

Tip:
Does your distro support NTFS?
run as root --
modprobe ntfs

[Aaronk]

Hello, well I?m almost in the same boat as you, except that I?m using another HD on the computer. After shutdown I just unplug the IDE cable and swap drives.

------ YES there are much BETTER ways of doing this. IDE ports )and most cables) support two drives a piece. Read above and below your post, and run a goolge search about using a boot loader. You can also try System Commander, although pricey at about $50, it can be invaluable to a newbie. It a multi boot manager, and does mor or less what all thr free ones do in Linux, however it will also help you install a new OS, at any time, and (at leased used to) comes with Partition Manager which will ask you which Distro you plan on installing and help you along with a "pretty" little gui as well.

[El_Cu_Guy]

Some people though don't like the idea of messing withg a boot loader. There are a number of people out there who just want to try linux but don't want LiLo or GRUB hanging around after dumping it.

These of course are the same people who obviously won't be entering any expert mode and so they won't be placing the bootloader manually.

If you are looking for a hardware solution consider something along the lines of what I have mentiuoned in my previous post. These devices also prevent hardware access by preventing the system from detecting any hard disk on the system.

Playing around inside your computer like that isn't a good option at anytime. Think about what a possible static electric shock might do to your motherboard if you're not careful.

Also I never recommend Partition Magic to anyone who wishes to install Linux. They always make "linux partitions" then screw up the install. There's nothing in Partition Magic that can't be done with any other free tool or util include with a distro or OS.

[slapNUT]

Is 8.0 better for getting along with XP? I'm thinking I can get my feet wet with 7.3, then possibly upgrade later. I guess I could install XP with a FAT32 filesystem instead of NTFS, though I'm not exactly sure what the practical difference is. (I read in another thread that you can't write to files on the other OS if they're NTFS, so maybe FAT32 is better in this case?)
No it's not any better. Mandrake comes with NTFS module support, as do most other newer Linux distros. I think RedHat is under new management <whisper> Micronopoly</whisper>.

Like has been posted here (very rudely by some) you can install XP on a vfat partition instead of NTFS.

[BrownieInMotion]

Okay. Right now I'm thinking I'll give 25GB to Windows and 15 to Linux. I'm also leaning towards FAT32 for Windows.

I've read that RedHat overwrites the MBR in WindowsNT & 2000, but I assume it's not an issue in XP. I hope.

At this rate, I may reinstall XP and be messing around with Linux this very weekend. Woo!

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by BrownieInMotion

I've read that RedHat overwrites the MBR in WindowsNT & 2000, but I assume it's not an issue in XP. I hope.



Any distros bootloader will overwrite the mbr only if you choose to install the Linux bootloader in the mbr and not the boot or root partition.

I never install any bootloader in the mbr (the same as MS never does) and always use a separate /boot partition at the beginning of hda.

[CrashTestDummy9]

Originally posted by El_Cu_Guy


Also I never recommend Partition Magic to anyone who wishes to install Linux. They always make "linux partitions" then screw up the install. There's nothing in Partition Magic that can't be done with any other free tool or util include with a distro or OS. Resizing XPs NTFS is one GOOD reason to use Partition Magic .
Ive created Linux partitions with it and never had a bit of trouble .

Partition Magic 8.0 is a good tool .