Partitioning scheme

[thully]

OK, I have 8.6GB free (4.3GB taken for Windows), and I want to make partitions for other operating systems. I want space for Linux, and space that can be used for testing any OS (another Linux distribution,BSD,BeOS, etc.

Also, I have a second hard drive (slower than the first) that is 4GB.

How should I do this partitioning?

[Ryeker]

Put your Linux on your 8GB drive. Just one ext2 partition and one swap partition. Use the second hard drive for OS testing.

[ferrol]

Do this mean you have one Hard drive of about 12-14 GB or two of 8 and 4 respectfully.?

If you do want to keep windows then put Linux just behind it when you install. Most distros will allow you to choose the partitioning scheme as long as you no what you are doing. As a minimumI'd say at least have a root and swap.

After this you can install any OS behind, just make sure the other OS is happy over the 1024 boundry. Though the New versions of most bot loaders can handle this.

Most importantly of all Back up you data first!!!

[thully]

I'm got 1 13.6GB DMA66 7,200rpm drive and 1 older,slower 4GB drive. Currently, I was planning either to partition like this:

Drive 1-
Windows (4.3GB)
Linux (4.1GB)
Other OS (4.1GB)
Linux Swap (256MB) (can this be shared by other OSs easily?)
Drive 2-
Backups (4GB FAT32)

Drive 1-
Windows (6.5GB)
Linux+/home+swap (6.5GB)
Drive 2-
Backup (2GB)
Other OS (2GB)

I'd like a /home partition, but I'm concerned about havoing a small / partition, and I'm also concerned about the performance of the second drive in other OSs.