Hard Drive Partitioning

[Hellraiser]

I've just done a search in these Newbie forums, looking for an answer to a question. I didn't find it, so am going to ask. If it has been answered, just point me in the direction I need and accept my apologies.

I currently run Windows XP Pro on a 250 Gig unpartitioned drive. I'm wondering if it's possible to install Kubuntu without having to destroy that windows install. Here's the kicker. I have an 80 Gig Secondary drive I'm using as Storage, and don't want to have to format that either. So my options are either format my 250 Gig, or find out that I can install Kubuntu on that 250G without damaging the Windows OS. Neither hard drive is partitioned.

Also, some suggestions on partitioning sizes, how many, etc would be extremely helpful. My main goal for Kubuntu is to make it my main OS, with Windows being my secondary OS for gaming.

[analyticalman]

Re: Hard Drive Partitioning

You have to create new partitions to install Kubuntu. But you can reduce the size of your windows partition (on your main drive preferably) to create space on your hard drive. Then, after creating partitions for Kubuntu (the installer handles all this for you) You can then "dual boot" into either windows or Kubuntu. if all has gone well you will not have damaged your windows setup at all. This is a huge topic, search this forum for "dual boot" or google it and you'll get loads of info

[Aldrik]

Re: Hard Drive Partitioning

point me in the direction -> https://wiki.kubuntu.org/HowtoPartition

[aysiu]

Re: Hard Drive Partitioning

http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone

[Hellraiser]

Re: Hard Drive Partitioning

Ty for the responses. Found what I was looking for before coming back here. Was a stupid question on my part, I suppose.

Is there any other links to http://easyubuntu.freecontrib.org/ that I can find, as I'm just about to install Kubuntu, and need that to get the majority of it up and running.

[askrieger]

Re: Hard Drive Partitioning

I think you'll find quite a lot of discussion of EasyUbuntu, here and on the Ubuntu Forums, (where there seems to be more heat than light in the discussions). To sum it up, I think you can use EasyUbuntu successfully on a new install before you start customizing and installing things that aren't part of the base package. I can't speak from experience, though because, I've never used it.

My general advice on partitioning would be, if you have to ask how large to make partitions for specific Linux directory trees, you shouldn't make separate Linux partitions for specific directory trees, because you don't know how you are going to set up your system, so just make one big Linux partition.

[Hellraiser]

Re: Hard Drive Partitioning

I have it set up quite simply. 127 Gig for LInux and a 1 Gig Swap. Rest of it Windows Owns.

[askrieger]

Re: Hard Drive Partitioning

I think that's the best way until you know from experience, how much room to leave for /home, or /var, or whatever.

Welcome to Linux and enjoy yourself!

[Hellraiser]

Re: Hard Drive Partitioning

Thank you. Hopefully it's an experience I enjoy.