Operating Systems > Linux and UNIX

save my partition table!!!!

(1/6) > >>

Master of Reality:
okay, i'm gonna try to re-install linux, but first i need to know if i can resize my win (fat32) partition without having to format and lose my data, with diskdrake?

bootloading: i have mylinux partition on hda3, my win partition on hda1. so, if i install LILO on hda1 can i use it to load either linux or win?

[ May 16, 2002: Message edited by: Master of Reality ]

asdf:
FIPS is a good non-destructive partition-splitting program. It's very well documented, do a search on google.

As far as bootloading goes, install LILO in the MBR. That way you can choose between Linux and Windows when you boot.

Master of Reality:
so, can diskdrake resize my win partition without making me lose my data?

i tried getting partition magic, but i accidentally got some special server records/drivers for a huge non-monopolistic company (he he). The trial version of parition magic is corrupted when you dl it from www.powerquest.com

jtpenrod:

quote: so, can diskdrake resize my win partition without making me lose my data?
--- End quote ---
Absolutely! This is not a problem at all as I've done it. Here's how I would do it. First of all, run scandisk to make certain that there are no bad blocks on your HD. Do this from DOS as it takes a dog's age if you start it from Windows. This will save time since you can then skip this step when doing the Linux install. Next, I'd take a good look at the "Hidden Files" feature article. There is an awful lot of garbage that you can get rid of to free up more disk space for Linux. Next, run defrag from Windows, not the DOS command prompt. Do it from Windows to prevent the loss of all the long file names. You can use Windows Explorer to see how much space Win is taking up so you don't accidentally overwrite any data.

Start the Mandrake install in "expert" mode so that you are able to do the actual partition resizing once you select that option. You can set up the Linux parts in whatever file system you want to use: ext2, ext3, ReiserFS (I think?) - I'd select one of the journaling systens (ext3 or Reiser) it comes in handy if you lose power, and it seems to be somewhat faster than ext2. There really isn't any more to it than that.

It's also a good idea to tell the installer that you'd like to select your own boot loader. My preference is GRUB instead of LILO. GRUB will automatically detect the presence of Win, and add it to the boot menu.

One extra precaution that I would recommend is that once Mandrake is up and running, is go to the Mandrake Control Center -> hardware -> mount points, and take a few megabytes or so off the VFAT part, leaving free space between the VFAT and Linux parts. I've had problems with overlap errors that can ruin both parts if you ever run defrag again. You can either leave the free space, or if you have Partition Magic, use it to resize the VFAT part back into the free space to eliminate any partition overlaps.
________________________________

Powered by Mandrake Linux and Freedom
Computers are like air conditioners: they can't do their jobs if you open windows.

Sorry, jptenrod, this image was linking to MSN. I HAD to change it...

[ May 22, 2002: Message edited by: Calum ]

Master of Reality:
one more thing, whats the difference between ext2 and ext3 filesystems?

[ March 31, 2002: Message edited by: Druaga ]

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page