Partition Questions

[Guest]

I have an 80GB HD (tiny I know, should be getting a new one soon) and am trying to install Kubuntu to dual boot with Windows XP. I've searched through many Kubuntu tutorials and I'm still a bit confused about the partition step when installing. I was hoping someone here could clear some things up.

When you get to the partition step, it asks you if you would like to partition your hard drive manually or automatically. The automatic option says something like "Use entire disk - 80000 MB" which to my understanding will delete Windows and all data on my C drive from my system, correct?

Assuming this, I choose the manual option. At which point it doesn't allow me to simply create a "New partition", only delete the current partition table or delete the single Windows partition. Both options, I assume, lead to data loss.

I have 15GB set aside for the Kubuntu partition and I was wondering how I would go about isolating that without losing any data. Do I create a new partition table, create the partition before I even start the installation process or something completely different?

I'm fairly new to this Linux business, as you can probably tell, and any help is much appreciated.

[Snowhog]

Re: Partition Questions

Do your self a favor and download/burn the GParted LivdCD and use it to do your partitioning. This is the preferred way to do partitioning.

[vinnywright]

Re: Partition Questions

I usualey do my partitioning befor trying to install.

I use a gparted livecd for this...........if your gowing to dool boot I would do this!!

FIRST- fire up windows and run chkdsk with the fix option then defrag then the chkdsk fix agin.

second- fire up gparted livecd you can now chose to eather partition the free space you sead you have OR shrink the NTFS (windows) partition to get more space.

you nead min. 1-partition for Kubuntu and 1- for swap ......and if you get enuf room it nice to have /home on it's one partition to.

the amount of swap you nead is debatable if you have a lot of RAM 1Gig or more you may not nead mutch if less than 1Gig you'll prob nead more...........I usualey just put 1Gig for swap eney way nomater how mutch RAM I have.

OK if say you go with just the 15 Gig you have set apart ....I wouldent bother with a seperet /home sence you want the root of Kubuntu / to be 10 Gig eneyway...(allthough 5-6 would prob do) that would leav onley 4 for /home and1 for swap ........

SO just split 1 Gig off for swap and make it so and make the rest a 14 Gig ext3 partition for Kubuntu

NOW- back to the installation and at the partition step chose the manuale option and you will see the partitions you made click the ext3 one and assine it to / in the dropdown box for mount as and do the same for swap

now someware olong the line now one of the windows will have a advanced button .......mabey the last befor installing when you see it click it and make shur Grub IS geting instaled to the MBR.

VINNY

[Guest]

Re: Partition Questions

Thanks a lot Vinny and Snowhog! I'm gonna try this method out now. Really appreciate the help.