partitioning?

elf · 02-15-2005, 11:23 AM

How should I partition the drive for linux?

Like the swap...how big should it be? (15GB hd and a seperate 2GB)
and do I need other partitions or just one?

Is there anything else I should know before installation?

Zero369 · 02-15-2005, 04:38 PM

When i installed Suse 9.2 Pro this is what i did..I have a 80 GB hard drive.

1.Created a partition of 20 GB using Partition magic.
2. Put SuSe in my CD-ROM
3. Restarted my computer.
4. SuSE did the rest of the work for me.
5.Suse automatically detected the 20 GB partition i made and installed it on the 20 GB partition and it automatically made a swap for me also.

For swap you gotta double it. For example if u have 512 MB double that for a swap space.

Hope that helps.

elf · 02-16-2005, 05:18 PM

What file format is it (fat, fat32, ntfs, or something I don't know about?)

batty_professor · 02-16-2005, 05:43 PM

I'm unclear what you would like to have where. Seems if you have a 15gig drive, it's logical to have both systems on it. Put the 2gig in as a slave if anything, and just use it as a dedicated swap space.If XP, or any windoze O/S is on the drive already, then when you get to the partition gui in the Linux install, you will be able to see how much space is needed for windows, from there you can decide how much of the drive to use for your Linux install. I've run a Mandrake Linux in as small as 4.3 gig drive.

elf · 02-16-2005, 05:47 PM

That's fine, I have no reservations for how to use the drives. Would that work? Using the 16 for the directories and the 2GB for the swap space? and I have windows on it right now, but it was just to test whether or not it would work. I plan on getting rid of it asap.

I need recommendations because I've never set up linux before and I am at a complete loss. I don't even know what the swap space is for...

batty_professor · 02-16-2005, 06:08 PM

Ok, a "happy" 4 gig or so should be fine to put linux into. When you're satisfied Linux is what you want, the entire drive can be at your disposal. You don't really need the 2 gig in there at all if you don't want. "Swap" is what winderz calls "virtual memory" if that helps clear anything up for you.

elf · 02-16-2005, 06:13 PM

Ok so what type of file format should I format it as? Does linux use a special one? And do I need to make a seperate 4 gig partition or should I just leave it as one whole 16gig one and the 2gb as swap.

batty_professor · 02-16-2005, 06:35 PM

When doing the install, you'll come across the choices "erase entire disk" and the other is "use free space" Each mean exactly what they say. "Erase entire disk" will partition and format the whole 16 gig for Linux File System, and install accordingly. If you wish to keep winderz on for a while yet, select the "use free space" option. Either selection proceeds pretty much automatically. The installation will want to know about languages, time zone, who U R. and the user name and password you wish to use, and also a root password, for system security. Pay attention to the summary page, it tells what is configured, and what is not, and you have opportunity then to make changes there as necessary.

elf · 02-17-2005, 08:04 AM

God willing I'll get to it this afternoon. I lost about 50 blank cd's so I have to use my friends and he's never available when I need him. Sounds pretty straight forward.

One more thing...do I need to create a boot disk or are the 2 cd's bootable?

batty_professor · 02-17-2005, 11:49 AM

The CD's are bootable.

elf · 02-19-2005, 09:58 PM

mkdir: Cannont create directory '/mnt/var/log/setup/tmp/scan####' " No space left on device

I think I set it all up correctly...but maybe not. It is clearly trying to install it onto the wrong directory. How do I make it install on my hd?

edit: nevermind...apparently I was forgetting to set my "target" device. I guess I should rtfm before assuming it's messed up.

02-15-2005, 11:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
elf Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 7,038 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 and Windows 7 My System	partitioning? How should I partition the drive for linux? Like the swap...how big should it be? (15GB hd and a seperate 2GB) and do I need other partitions or just one? Is there anything else I should know before installation? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

02-16-2005, 05:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
elf Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 7,038 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 and Windows 7 My System	What file format is it (fat, fat32, ntfs, or something I don't know about?) __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

02-16-2005, 05:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
batty_professor Asst. Manager, Alternative Computing Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hooterville Il 45 mi. east of St. Louis mo Posts: 2,608 OS: Fedora Core 5 for now	I'm unclear what you would like to have where. Seems if you have a 15gig drive, it's logical to have both systems on it. Put the 2gig in as a slave if anything, and just use it as a dedicated swap space.If XP, or any windoze O/S is on the drive already, then when you get to the partition gui in the Linux install, you will be able to see how much space is needed for windows, from there you can decide how much of the drive to use for your Linux install. I've run a Mandrake Linux in as small as 4.3 gig drive. __________________ It's better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me. B. While users are never under any obligation, if you feel the urge please feel free to visit our donation page. Every little bit helps. And we thank you for your support. Microsoft free Registered Linux user 397458

02-16-2005, 05:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
elf Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 7,038 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 and Windows 7 My System	That's fine, I have no reservations for how to use the drives. Would that work? Using the 16 for the directories and the 2GB for the swap space? and I have windows on it right now, but it was just to test whether or not it would work. I plan on getting rid of it asap. I need recommendations because I've never set up linux before and I am at a complete loss. I don't even know what the swap space is for... __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again. Last edited by elf; 02-16-2005 at 05:49 PM.

02-16-2005, 06:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
batty_professor Asst. Manager, Alternative Computing Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hooterville Il 45 mi. east of St. Louis mo Posts: 2,608 OS: Fedora Core 5 for now	Ok, a "happy" 4 gig or so should be fine to put linux into. When you're satisfied Linux is what you want, the entire drive can be at your disposal. You don't really need the 2 gig in there at all if you don't want. "Swap" is what winderz calls "virtual memory" if that helps clear anything up for you. __________________ It's better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me. B. While users are never under any obligation, if you feel the urge please feel free to visit our donation page. Every little bit helps. And we thank you for your support. Microsoft free Registered Linux user 397458

02-15-2005, 04:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zero369 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 112 OS: 2000	When i installed Suse 9.2 Pro this is what i did..I have a 80 GB hard drive. 1.Created a partition of 20 GB using Partition magic. 2. Put SuSe in my CD-ROM 3. Restarted my computer. 4. SuSE did the rest of the work for me. 5.Suse automatically detected the 20 GB partition i made and installed it on the 20 GB partition and it automatically made a swap for me also. For swap you gotta double it. For example if u have 512 MB double that for a swap space. Hope that helps.

02-16-2005, 06:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
elf Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 7,038 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 and Windows 7 My System	Ok so what type of file format should I format it as? Does linux use a special one? And do I need to make a seperate 4 gig partition or should I just leave it as one whole 16gig one and the 2gb as swap. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

02-16-2005, 06:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
batty_professor Asst. Manager, Alternative Computing Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hooterville Il 45 mi. east of St. Louis mo Posts: 2,608 OS: Fedora Core 5 for now	When doing the install, you'll come across the choices "erase entire disk" and the other is "use free space" Each mean exactly what they say. "Erase entire disk" will partition and format the whole 16 gig for Linux File System, and install accordingly. If you wish to keep winderz on for a while yet, select the "use free space" option. Either selection proceeds pretty much automatically. The installation will want to know about languages, time zone, who U R. and the user name and password you wish to use, and also a root password, for system security. Pay attention to the summary page, it tells what is configured, and what is not, and you have opportunity then to make changes there as necessary. __________________ It's better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me. B. While users are never under any obligation, if you feel the urge please feel free to visit our donation page. Every little bit helps. And we thank you for your support. Microsoft free Registered Linux user 397458

02-17-2005, 08:04 AM	#9 (permalink)
elf Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 7,038 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 and Windows 7 My System	God willing I'll get to it this afternoon. I lost about 50 blank cd's so I have to use my friends and he's never available when I need him. Sounds pretty straight forward. One more thing...do I need to create a boot disk or are the 2 cd's bootable? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

02-17-2005, 11:49 AM	#10 (permalink)
batty_professor Asst. Manager, Alternative Computing Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hooterville Il 45 mi. east of St. Louis mo Posts: 2,608 OS: Fedora Core 5 for now	The CD's are bootable. __________________ It's better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me. B. While users are never under any obligation, if you feel the urge please feel free to visit our donation page. Every little bit helps. And we thank you for your support. Microsoft free Registered Linux user 397458

02-19-2005, 09:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
elf Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 7,038 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 and Windows 7 My System	mkdir: Cannont create directory '/mnt/var/log/setup/tmp/scan####' " No space left on device I think I set it all up correctly...but maybe not. It is clearly trying to install it onto the wrong directory. How do I make it install on my hd? edit: nevermind...apparently I was forgetting to set my "target" device. I guess I should rtfm before assuming it's messed up. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again. Last edited by elf; 02-19-2005 at 10:25 PM.