Linux install partition problem

[ooids]

Hi All,

I am trying to install RHEL WS3 on a machine that is already dual booted with XP and RH 7.3

This is what i get when i choose Manual partition mode:

/dev/hda1 ntfs
/dev/hda2 ext3 (/boot) # Used for RH 7.3
/dev/hda3 swap
/dev/hda4 Extended
/dev/hda5 ext3 (/) # Used for RH 7.3
Free (25GB)

I want to create install WS 3 on single partition using the free space.

I have tried editing the "Free" partition and creating a new partition with a "/" mount point but i keep getting the following error:

" Could not allocate requested partitions: Partitioning failed: Could not allocate cylinder-based partitions as primary partitions"

I am assuming that the partition for WS3 needs to be root AND a primary partition??

What am i doing wrong?

Cheers!

 

[thedaver]

You should be creating an extended partition. You've used the four available primary "real" partitions.

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[Chacalinc]

the problem is the following:

1. /boot, /, and swap *must be* primary partition. (not sure about /)
2. a disk drive can partitioned with only 3 primary partitions and 1 extended (to have the rest of the partitions.

3. for XP you need at least 1 primary, for RH7.3 you need at least 2 primary partitions and for RHEL you need at least 2 more primary partitions... = 5 primary. according to point 2, that's not possible. you need at least 2 disk drives!!

Cheers.

 

[ooids]

Thanks for the help

Are you sure SWAP has to be primary - can it not be a logical partition?

Is it possible to "move" a partition from primary to logical - i have used Acronis Disk director recently and that has a move option but this feels like a dangerous thing to do!

Cheers

 

[thedaver]

SWAP can be extended

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[stevexff]

I have had all my Linux partitions in extended on my dual-boot systems, on RH6, 7, 8, 9, FC1, FC2, and FC3. I've never heard of a restriction on this before. It's only Windows that insists on a primary partition.

However, you do have a problem in that you can only have 4 real partitions, and you've used them all. You can have any number of extended partitions, as they all chain from the first one (I think). Try creating an extended partition in the free space, and then suballocate it for /boot, / and swap.