Thomas, This is just some thoughts/suggestions. I don't know anything about xp, so some of this might need adaptation. YMMV. On Sun, Jun 23, 2002 at 01:06:42PM +0200, Thomas Widlundh wrote:
Hi, I'm about to install SuSE 8.0 on a machine with WinXP on NTFS. There is one disk with C: and D: and I'd like to use the D: for SuSE. I suppose I have to make WinXP not to see this D: in some way and only use C: for itselt, but how?
Simple, really... 'Delete' the partition, during the install. It's been a while since I installed linux alongside any kind of windows, so I'm a bit uncertain about the specifics. But in the part of the install where you tell SuSE where to live, there will be some suggestions fron YaST2. At this point, point it towards the "d:" (should be /dev/hda2 I'd think) and tell it to remove that partition. And then make a /swap and / and tell it to format with whichever file system you prefer.
I have PartitionMagic ver 3.0 and it claims to be able to manage NTFS, but when I want to install it, it says that it is unable to manage NTFS 5.0.
You shouldn't need it.
The machine were pre-installed with WinXP and have just a rescue CD, wich will restore the two partitions and the NTFS file system.
Which would make me suggest a slightly different approach: Get a second harddrive, to put linux on. (Or kill Windows ;) In the (un)likely event that you want/need to reinstall xp, using that "rescue" cd *will* kill your SuSE! ...! Also, there's the aspect of eXPlaining to xp, that it now only has the one partition... I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if xp would be uncooperative in that department... Getting a second disk could make your life a whole lot easier... MHO
As I'm not changing something in the NTFS file system, can I use this PartitionMagic to shrink the Win partition, or is there another way to solve this?
I haven't the faintest idea about how xp lays out it's partitions, but so long as "c" and "d" are actually two different partitions, no shrinking should be neccessary. If otoh, everything is in one primary partition, and "c/d" are logical ones... ymmv
Or is this brand new excellent machine (Fujitsu-Siemens) waisted for using WinXP only?
No, you *could* just wipe windows out, and use the machine for linux ;D
Thanks in advance for any tip on this.
Sure, this is all very general, some food for thought. Once you decide on an approach, and if you need more specific advice, this list is a great place. :) hth Jon Clausen