Trying to dual boot Win98SE & Linux, partitioning problem

[piked]

Basically I'm setting up my computer to dual boot win98 SE and redhat 7.2 on a 40 gig seagate drive. I've used the 98 SE version of fdisk, from the cd, to make 1 primary DOS partition of 15 gig + 1 logical DOS drive of 15 gig. Both have been formatted to FAT32, and there is currently around 8gig of untouched, free space left on the HD.

Running through the redhat installer, it tells me the partition tables are inconsistent and gives me the option to "ignore" and go on, or "cancel" and initialize the disk. Ignoring it, I tell it to use the free space to create a linux partition, but it can't. It does recognise there's about 8 gig of free space there, but it won't add a linux partition or let me create my own.

I have tried this twice already, having used the "cancel" option to initialize the disk and then using linux fdisk option "o" to create a new, empty dos partition table, and then using 98 fdisk to start all over. I've used ranish partition manager to make sure there's nothing but free space on the disk, then tried again, but redhat always comes up with the same error about the partition table being inconsistent. It also says my disk is set to some 4865 cylinders, which it points out is greater than 1024, and may cause problems.

Possibly this post is in the wrong place, and this is a software issue rather than HDD, but I'm inexperienced at this sort of thing and not sure whether my HD itself might be playing some part in the error here. Thanks.

 

[wolluf]

Do you need the extended partition? Have you tried installing Linux starting with just a primary win98 partition? (this is just a suggestion - I have had numerous attempts at installing Linux - both on its own disk and with various version of Windows - but gave up some time ago as I could never get any distribution to work properly. However, I'm pretty sure I got one to install with just a primary FAT32 Win 98 partition already on the disk).

 

[vincentL]

Dear Piked,
I struggled many times with dual boot win98/linux. The easy way is to get several removable hard trays and just change hard drives when you want to change operating systems. Sounds like chickening out but it works.
There is certainly a solution somewhere - perhaps using "DiskDruid", the RedHat partitioning utility but my way is easy and sure.
Vince LaPorte
vincentL@acmc.com

 

[piked]

1. The extended dos partition is intended as "shared" fat32 disk space, which both operating systems can access.

2. This is all on a single HD, I don't have the option of switching HD's.. basically I want access to both operating systems, but don't need much space on either, so I'll have some 15 gig for win98, 15 gig shared files, 8+gig redhat 7.2.

Dunno if this info sheds any light on the problem, I still haven't had any luck. Redhat 7.2 installer still refuses to utilise the 8gig free space left on the disk. It recognises this free space, says it's around 8 gig, then tells me it can't insert a partition in it.

 

[TyrantSSV]

piked

The problem you meets caused by Linux recognizing of HDD's geometry. I think if you will try to install Linux into first 1024 cylinders it will be sucessful.
Try to use (if possible) an another computer and some partitioning software (I use Partition Magick) to create the DOS partition first but not from the start of drive.
Install 98SE first, and Linux after it.

 

[piked]

Yeah, I'd read about this in an FAQ or two, but they always referred to this 1024 cylinder problem as something that happened to older machines, or older BIOS's. I'm currently on an Epox 8kha+ and had thought it immune, but more than likely this is not the case.

I'll give it a shot - few options remain, anyway.

Thanks.

 

[TyrantSSV]

OK, but I'd tried to install OpenBSD in the same situation and was be sucessful when intalled it in first 1024 cylinders...

 

[wolluf]

You could try this

http://www.lpacomputers.telinco.co.uk/pdisk.exe

to partition disk (could create fat32 partition at end of disk on last partition - could create a primary rather than extended shared partition - could create 'dummy' partition(s) for Linux at start of disk - basically gives you more partitioning options).