Mandrake 9.1 COMPLETE NEWBIE 3

[zed994]

Hey Everyone, i may seem like a loser trying this stuff out with no Linux Experience but i need help, dont think that i am a person bludging off your know how and work but i have tried the googling and i cant get very far

So the thing i need is, help finding tutorials on INstalling, configuring mandrake linux and i would also really like to Dual Boot it with my Windows XP professional

Any help offered by people will be gratefully accepted and would also be out of your way and big thanks is awarded in advance

Sorry about being a newbie, lol

Thanks

Alex

 

[zed994]

Another thing, any other advice on just plain use of mandrake properly, thankyou

 

[x508]

Hi Zed.

I feel your pain... I myself am alos a newbie.
I have worked with Mandrake 8.0 for a while, and I now moved on to 9.1


You can install Linux and Microsux on the same machine, even hardrive. You do however need to install linux on it's own partition. So get a utility that can partition your HD without detroying your current data.

You can normally boot from the 1st linux CD and you will be asked if you want to install. Continue the installation, it is very straight forward, when you get to the partition information in the installation, select the new partition that you created and use the "Auto Allocate" option. This will allow Linux to use your new partition and devide it into normal linux partitions. The rest is also pretty straight forward.

Get there and let me know.

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May the Code Be With You...
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x50-8 (X Fifty Eigt)

 

[zed994]

Hey,

Yeah, i have no problem destroying my data and formatting in FAT32 so.... start from clean thing, what to use to parition, can mandrake 9.1 do that??

Thanks

ALex

 

[x508]

Do you want to run Microsuxx, uhm, I mean Microsoft Windows as well?


If so, you first need to format using fdisk, to create two partitions and then install windows on the first.

You can then boot from the linux cd and and install linux on the second...

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

I you want to run just linux, you can just pop in the cd and when you get to the partition information in the setup, you can format and fdisk there.


So, what do you want to do today...lol





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May the Code Be With You...
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x50-8 (X Fifty Eigt)

 

[zed994]

Does FDisk still exist in windows xp.. if so, how do i access it, or can i just use a windows 98 or Windows ME boot disk to access Fdisk??? thanks... alex

 

[x508]

You can use th Computer Management console in XP to create partitions, but you cannot do anything to your System partition, i.e the one that windows is installed on.

Referring to my previous post, please tell me what you want to do, Option 1 or Option 2

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May the Code Be With You...
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x50-8 (X Fifty Eigt)

 

[zed994]

O yeah Sorry

I want to format my disk right (so a clean start)

and then have a boot screen so i can choose between WinXP and Mandrake Linux thanks

so, easiest way...... from the beginning

Thanks again

Alex

 

[zed994]

O yeah Sorry

I want to format my disk right (so a clean start)

and then have a boot screen so i can choose between WinXP and Mandrake Linux thanks

so, easiest way...... from the beginning and how to access fdisk to create another partition

Thanks again

Alex

 

[x508]

OK, you can create a MS-DOS startup disk from The floppy formatter in XP, make sure fdisk is on it after is has been created.

Boot your PC with the floppy and run Fdisk.

When fdisk starts up,do not choose the "Maximum space"
In fdsik, first delete all your partitions.

The create a primary partion, "Indicarte the size you would want to use for it, this will be your C drive.

Then create a Secondary partition and use the maximum available size for it.
You will then be asked to define logical dos drives and then use the maximum size for your logical dos drive (This will be your D drive).
Set your primary partition active and restart your PC, boot from the floppy again and format your c drive.

install XP on your c drive, after that boot from linux cd and install linux on your second partition


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May the Code Be With You...
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x50-8 (X Fifty Eigt)

 

[zed994]

hUH??? sorry ive never done the floppy formatter thing to create a boot disk, and where would i get fdisk from in the first place... sorry for bothering you with the questions

Thanks ALOT for all u rhelp and keep it coming if u want

Alex

 

[zed994]

Ok, i found what you were talking about thanks....

ok, so reboot with the disk done, damnit fdisk is a bit condufising.... ok, n e other advice??

 

[x508]

K, right click your floppy in my computer and choose "Format", check the box labeled "Create MS-DOS startup disk"

After that, check on the floppy if it has fdisk on it, if not, do a search on your pc for "fdisk.com" If you can't find it, you will have to get it from a Win98 system

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May the Code Be With You...
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x50-8 (X Fifty Eigt)

 

[x508]

Yes, read my previous post about what to do in fdsik, print what I typed and find the corresponding options in fdisk

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May the Code Be With You...
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x50-8 (X Fifty Eigt)

 

[flugh]

You can also use the 'diskdruid' part of Mandrake's install program to divvy up the partitions, then set the first one to type 'ntfs'. Reboot, install Windows XP to the ntfs partition, get that all over with. Then start over again with the Mandrake install to the 2nd and other partitions.

I wouldn't get too fancy with the Windows XP reinstall. If you are new to the game, there's a decent chance you'll goof up and hose the Windows install at some point. No big deal. Trial by fire, trial and error, learn from your mistakes, etc.

I've been using Mandrake off and on since the 5.x days. It's my desktop distro of choice. I think you'll enjoy it. Your mileage may vary

----
JBR

 

[zed994]

Thanks,

Will the linux partition still see the XP partition ven though the xp is NTFS????

Alex

 

[zed994]

Also, in your opinion,..... Fdisk or diskdruid????

 

[x508]

With diskdruid it is much easier to create partition, but I have found that you sometimes battle to get your primary partition to boot (i.e. Your Windows Partition)

Linux will be able to see your NTFS partition, although I do not recommend that you use NTFS for you XP partition unless you are really going to use NTFS(i.e. Server thingies and file partitions)



**********************************
May the Code Be With You...
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x50-8 (X Fifty Eigt)

 

[zed994]

Ok, i will use FAT32 because i am not up on the file system uses.

ok, i will begin the process of dual boot, so just correct any mistakes u can in my checklist and thanks alot for all ur help agian

1.so i boot using MSDOS boot disk with FDISK on it (choose to u FDISK)

2. Run FDISK,.... delete C partition, create 2 more partitions, make big one for windows, rest of disk for Mandrake.

3. SET YOUR PRIMARY PARTITION ACTIVE????? what does that mean and how do i do it before i get started???

4. Instead of rebooting from floppy can i boot from XP CD??? and format C: from there???????

5. Install XP on primary

6. Install Mandrakke on secondary/... will all the linux partition sectors (eg. /usr, /etc and stuff like that)
be added automatically by Mandrake???

THANKYOU AGAIN

Alex

 

[TheBigBasicQ]

Hi Alex. Its good to see that more and more newbies want to learn how to use linux. I too was once like you, not too long ago. Here is a simple set of instructions that will help u to use fdisk and get you started on installation.

Things that you need:
1. MS-DOS bootable floppy(I recommend using WinME's startup disk since it definitely has all the utilities that you will require)
2. WinXP CD
3. Linux CD

before we begin with actual installation you should put your Linux CD 1 in the CD drive and boot from it to check whether the installation starts. If not then you will have to create a installation disk.

1. Shut down ur comp and put the MSDOS disk in the drive and start it up again.
2. After the C prompt appears run FDISK and select large disk support(just press Y).
3. A screen containing various tasks will be displayed similar to this one.
Microsoft Windows Millennium
Fixed Disk Setup Program
(C)Copyright Microsoft Corp. 1983 - 2000

FDISK Options

Current fixed disk drive: 1

Choose one of the following:

1. Create DOS partition or Logical DOS Drive
2. Set active partition
3. Delete partition or Logical DOS Drive
4. Display partition information
5. Change current fixed disk drive


Enter choice: [1]

4. Select 4th option. The partitioning info will be displayed. note down the partitions and their types.
5. Press 'escape' to return to the original screen and select 3rd option. You will a screen like this

Delete DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive

Current fixed disk drive: 1

Choose one of the following:

1. Delete Primary DOS Partition
2. Delete Extended DOS Partition
3. Delete Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition
4. Delete Non-DOS Partition



Enter choice: [ ]

6. Delete all the partitions from the drive. While deleting go in the reverse order like if you have 4 partitions C,D,E,F. Then delete F,E,D,C.
7. After deleting all the partitions. Create new ones(Select 1 from the main menu). Like this:

Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive

Current fixed disk drive: 1

Choose one of the following:

1. Create Primary DOS Partition
2. Create Extended DOS Partition
3. Create Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended DOS Partition




Enter choice: [1]

8. For what you are doing you will require 1 primary and 1 Extended DOS partition. So just go ahead and create those partitions.
9. Now you need to set the active partition(Active partition is the partition where your main OS resides, i think). So select the PRIMARY DOS PARTITION as your active partition.
10. Now, all you need to do is exit out of FDISK and format your drive by giving "format c:" command(without &quot. This needs to be done from A: . Remember to format all the drives. You will not be able to use any partition without formatting it.

Installing XP:
1. Boot from the CD if it supports that. Or boot from the bootable disk provided with XP. Insert the XP CD and type Setup.
2.Choose Automated setup if you are unsure of providing all the info. But remember - when the setup asks you which File System you want, select Fat32 and NOT NTFS! and set the installation path to C:\windows.
3. After XP installation completes.

Installing LINUX:
1. Boot Linux Installation from CD 1. You can do this by setting the CD-Rom letter as the first in the boot up sequence.
2. The linux installation will begin. It will gather general info like the type of installation and such things. Answer them.
3. When it asks about partitioning. Select Manual and not auto. Now it will display a screen containing all the partitions. It will contain Hda1, Hda5... If you have another physical HDD then it will display Hdb1...etc. Simply select the second partition of the first drive i.e. Hda5.(Hda1 is the WinXP partition! dont touch it!)
4. Select 'add'. It will ask for the type of File System(Choose ext3), The mount point(choose / i.e. root) and the size(What ever size you want. But remember to leave atleast 64 to 128Mb free. This you will need for the swap partition.
5. Again select 'add'. Now choose the mount point as SWAP. And input the size 64/128 what ever you have selected.
5. Linux will then format your HDD(Only the selected partition) and start installation.

Wow! That was a big reply!!!
I may have missed out some finer points but I think this will get you through your dilemma.

If you arent able to boot from Linux CD1 then plz reply and I will tell you how to do it.

Bye,
Basix