Installation Problems (Kubuntu & Win XP)

[RDM]

Hello all. I am a newbie to the world of Linux, so please have patience. Am attempting to install Kubuntu as a 2nd O/S to create a dual-boot system with MS Win XP Pro. Having problem creating necessary partitions for the Linux installation. Understand that there has to be 4 partitions: 1. Boot, 2. / (O/S), 3. /home (files), 4. Swap. When I try to create the previous partitions using the Kubuntu Live disc, it only allows me to create 2 partitions (am using manual configuration). Has anyone used Partition Magic through Windows/DOS to create the necessary 4 partitions? If not, can someone suggest a simple method to install Kubuntu. Do not want to have to remove my Windows installation. Thx and good day to all.

[penguin.ch]

Re: Installation Problems (Kubuntu & Win XP)

On a machine capable of bearing Windoze XP, there should be no need for a separate Linux boot partition - which makes three to go where only two seem possible ... the trick: as "No 3" create a so-called logical (aka extended) partition - which is a container of sorts for another bunch of partitions; and inside this extended parition, create partitions for Linux swap, root and home "as you like it" ...

To prevent your machine as well as your nerves from damage, I recommend to boot from a so-called live system (read: from CD/DVD) and make use of the partition editor GParted. The resulting partition table should look similar to this one:

hda1 = XP, part i
hda2 = XP, part ii
hda3 = shared (*)
hda4 = extended
hda5 = LX swap
hda6 = LX root
hda7 = LX home

Remark: in case you want to share files between both system, a separate data partition with VFAT as file system may come in handy ...

HTH
Birdy

[The Liquidator]

Re: Installation Problems (Kubuntu & Win XP)

Hi
Not an installation problem per se...

I'm dual-booting with Edgy and Win XP. Whilst using edgy, the issue is the same.

When I next upgrade (Feisty probably) I would like to do a clean install whilst retaining my home data. Currently I have 1 Reiser partition and a swap.

Is it possible (or desirable) to create a home partition from within a working system and then copy the home directory to it, or is this something I've got to do at installation? Also, I've got 20gb available in total for root and home. Does anyone have any recommendations as to how much should be reserved for each?

Thanks

Ian

[penguin.ch]

Re: Installation Problems (Kubuntu & Win XP)

Is it possible (or desirable) to create a home partition from within a working system and then copy the home directory to it, or is this something I've got to do at installation? Also, I've got 20gb available in total for root and home. Does anyone have any recommendations as to how much should be reserved for each?

1. Moving the home folder(s) of a working system is a relatively simple task, as one could learn from this reading.

2. Separating home from root (read: OS) definitely makes sense, not least in the context of security (further reading).

Birdy

--

Postscript: reference updated

[The Liquidator]

Re: Installation Problems (Kubuntu & Win XP)

Thanks - I'll have a look at it over the weekend.

Couple of points

I already have a "data" partition for want of a better phrase - I ghave a FAT 32 partition (10Gb) so I can access important data from either Win or XP - even my Thunderbird Mail is there so it works great.

I have a total of 20 Gb for the system. Given the notes on the link would you say 12Gb for home and 8gb for root?

Would you advocate the use of the Disk & Filesystems function from within the menu or something else to create the partition.

Finally, I am confused. In "Disk & Filesystems" my 1GB swap partition (set up with MDV) with the name "none" is shown as "disabled". Attempting to enable it results in an error message. I assume that because it's disabled there is a problem with it - should I delete and reinstate?

Thanks

Ian

[penguin.ch]

Re: Installation Problems (Kubuntu & Win XP)

I have a total of 20 Gb for the system [...] 12Gb for home and 8gb for root?

Just for the sake of comparison, following the current state of my (real) machine (with all virtual machines residing on the "data" partition):

ROOT@C3PO # df -h -x tmpfs -x usbfs
Filesystem  Size  Used  Avail Use%  Mounted on
/dev/sda2  19G  3.0G  15G   17%  /
/dev/sda3  20G  7.4G  12G   40%  /home
/dev/sda4  74G  44G  27G   63%  /data

Would you advocate the use of the Disk & Filesystems function [...]

Plain and simple: NO - although more a gut feeling that a well founded suspicion

If I were you, I would revert to the GParted Live CD in order to get these things sorted out (incl. activating swap space).