In a previous message, "Jim Westbrook" wrote:

1. Boot the linux install, use the partitioner to reserve the inflated space determined above 2. create a /boot partition of 512MB (allows room for multiple kernels) using ext3

This step isn't necessary - SUSE doesn't need a boot partition. Basically, for a first install, accept the recommendation from the installer - provided that it suggests enough space for WinXP (in line with your calculation above). It's easy to alter the value if needed, but it will probably be fine anyway. In other words, it's easy; don't worry about it :-) John -- John Pettigrew Headstrong Games john@headstrong-games.co.uk Fun : Strategy : Price http://www.headstrong-games.co.uk/ Board games that won't break the bank Fields of Valour: 2 Norse clans battle on one of 3 different boards

In a previous message, Vince Littler wrote:

I would partition something like this:

40MB Primary partition type ext2 or 3, Linux /boot

40MB Primary partition type FAT32, win xp boot

remainder of the disk is an extended partition with Logical drives

Remembering that Windows insists on having the first partition on the disk or it won't boot. I'd still say that simply going with the offering from the SUSE installer is the easiest route. As Vince said, setting up the basic partitioning when you install WinXP would be best (choose not to use the whole disk on installation but just the space you think you'll need, leaving the rest for linux) but this isn't crucial - the linux installer will resize partitions for you. John -- John Pettigrew Headstrong Games john@headstrong-games.co.uk Fun : Strategy : Price http://www.headstrong-games.co.uk/ Board games that won't break the bank Valley of the Kings: ransack an ancient Egyptian tomb but beware of mummies!

In a previous message, Vince Littler wrote:

I suppose some will say that this is all getting a bit complex for a newbie install, but that's the way it is if you want dual boot.

I have to say that, for a first go, it really doesn't have to be like that. Just accept the installer's suggestion and it will be fine - it's designed to set up dual boot systems easily and safely. It's when reinstalling Windows *after* linux that you can have problems, because of Windows' determination to be the sole OS. John -- John Pettigrew Headstrong Games john@headstrong-games.co.uk Fun : Strategy : Price http://www.headstrong-games.co.uk/ Board games that won't break the bank Fields of Valour: 2 Norse clans battle on one of 3 different boards

Q: What happens if you have 2 physical hard drives? I'd put XP on one and SuSE on the other, but where does XP wind up? I will be putting up a new machine soon, and would like some advice as to how to do this. (I don't really want XP, but I'm afraid I'm stuck with it. I know that some of my old Windows stuff won't work anymore, and I'll probably have to find a Linux workaround.) --doug At 17:56 03/19/2004 +0000, Vince Littler wrote:

On Friday 19 March 2004 5:21 pm, suse@mniceguy.privasend.com wrote:

...

I've got a computer store guy who's doing an upgrade on my computer. He knows practically nothing about Linux but wants to learn. I've used Mandrake 8 & RHL 9, but only know a little, graphical basic stuff.

Goal is dual-boot WinXP and SUSE 9.0 Personal, which I bought at retail in a box.

Is there anything we/he need to know/do other than insert the disc after he installs XP and assume/hope YAST will prompt...?

Should we check compatibility, do other stuff first, panic about something else???

I *really* appreciate your help.

-M!

Understand partitioning and provide separate partitons for Linux and Win XP. I

don't have the manuals for Personal, but if they are anything like those for Professional, there should be some good reading on this issue. Read up and understand GRUB, the bootloader, which will work well with the windows boot loader in the right configuration

You have the choice at this point as you are installing everything from scratch, so don't let Win XP ruin your setup by allowing a default install. In particular, do not let Win XP grab the whole HD. If it does, then start over.

I would partition something like this:

40MB Primary partition type ext2 or 3, Linux /boot

40MB Primary partition type FAT32, win xp boot

remainder of the disk is an extended partition with Logical drives

40% of extended partition as logical drive D: type ntfs for Win XP

40% of extended partition as logical drive type reiserfs for Linux /

remainder as swap partition for Linux and odds and ends you might want

Note that this puts Win XP on drive D:, it should install there quite happily - all the NT machines I have had ended up with NT on D: or E:. Using this approach, each operating system gets its own small Primary drive, which helps with booting flexibility and if you do want to change the size of one system, you can leave the boot partitions untouched.

Others will disagree about the proportions I have suggested. I would also change them according to what exactly I wanted to do and how much disk I had. Take it as a starting point only and appreciate that it really is your call.

hth

Vince Littler

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On Saturday 20 March 2004 3:56 am, Ralph Sanford wrote:

On Fri, 2004-03-19 at 18:24, Doug McGarrett wrote:

...

Q: What happens if you have 2 physical hard drives? I'd put XP on one and SuSE on the other, but where does XP wind up? I will be putting up a new machine soon, and would like some advice as to how to do this. (I don't really want XP, but I'm afraid I'm stuck with it. I know that some of my old Windows stuff won't work anymore, and I'll probably have to find a Linux workaround.)

--doug

Hi Doug,

It may not be necessary but I believe it is the simplest and easiest to put any Windows OS on the first hard drive and the real OS on the second drive. Windows will always install without any problems if it is on the first drive, and by giving the whole drive to Windows I have never had Windows mess with or corrupt the real OS's on a separate second drive.

There are also no problems with the windows definition of the partition table disagreeing with the Linux determination of the partition table. You can partition the windows drive, if desired, and keep windows data on a fat32 partition for easy access by Linux and separate backup of the windows data.

I have never seen this happen

I have also found that when I set up a dual boot computer this way for people who are new to Linux, then Windows OS is on drive C where they expect to find it. And where their semi-computer literate friends expect to find it, so when they tinker and screw things up all that is affected is windows.

I don't think that putting windows on C: makes Linux any safer from tinkerers and screwers!

Keeping the OS's separate in each drive also make administration simple in that when windows had become corrupted you can quite freely format the entire windows hard drive and re-install. Not that administration of partitions is difficult, but when a friend who is a little uncertain is phoning for help with formating a disk, there is a certain comfort to say to disconnect the cable from the second disk before any partition management and the Linux disk will not be affected.

Unless you are doing something special, your linux setup still depends on the 1st HD to boot, in one way or another. So the comfort I wold find from this is far from complete. As a matter of interest, how do you arrange the booting for this setup? Vince

On Fri, 19 Mar 2004 20:24:17 -0500 Doug McGarrett wrote:

Q: What happens if you have 2 physical hard drives? I'd put XP on one and SuSE on the other, but where does XP wind up? I will be putting up a new machine soon, and would like some advice as to how to do this. (I don't really want XP, but I'm afraid I'm stuck with it. I know that some of my old Windows stuff won't work anymore, and I'll probably have to find a Linux workaround.)

--doug

<< snip > Hi, I have this setup..Win XP on drive 2 and 3 linux flavours on drive one. May I suggest... Put XP on drive 2 with its bootloader intact. Now should drive one pop out..just remove it and XP will boot on 2 without hassle. Install linux on drive one...as many as you like...use grub as bootloader...the last install on drive one will be in charge of the bootloading...if windows drive is in place as hd 2 on install then suse will pick that up and put it in grub. Make sure when configuring bootloading on install that you check that hd1 was selected for MBR install of bootloader. Ok..there is some tricks to correct this...but being new to this let us leave it at this. Suggest take a look at my posting on Suse linux community service - snippets....a detailed posting how to make a grub bootdisk and to install grub on hd.(one of the tricks to change which linux flavour is in charge of bootloading) Just for the hell of it..you sort of run out of space on drive one you can sneak in part of your linux install on drive 2 without affecting its MBR. Just put /boot on hd one and the rest can be on drive 2...of course the partitions there must be available. Partitions to linux is just addresses...can be on any drive on same box..as long as what is required must be available at such address. Goodluck Enjoy -- Johan Registered Linux User #330034 May this be a good day for learning - Still learning.

On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 09:27:39 +0000 Vince Littler wrote:

On Saturday 20 March 2004 8:50 am, Johan wrote:

...

On Fri, 19 Mar 2004 20:24:17 -0500 << snip >>

This I like. I assume that on drive 1 there are no FAT, VFAT or NTFS partitions and as a consequence, windows still thinks it is on C:?

Vince << snip >>

Hi, Well actually win 98 is on partition 1 on my drive 1. Ok...this is importend...you can install windows ..95..98..mill...xp...xp prof...on any drive position....afterwards...move it to another position and it will only revert to C:\ and carry on. Now if this drive 1 becomes drive 2 or 3.....well now drive 1 must provide a bootloader for itself and the following drives. Now if you should remove the now first drives and this original drive MBR is still intact it will boot in any position as C:\. I my case I just pull out drive 1 and leave xp in drive 2 in position and it boots. Linux is absolutely finiky about its drive position. look all the above I used...tried...experienced...and it is working for me. It is not hearsay. Goodluck....Enjoy -- Johan Registered Linux User #330034 May this be a good day for learning - Still learning.