Windows and Linux on same hard drive without formatting

[Guest_imported]

I have Windows ME on my computer right now, and I want to put Mandrake 8.1 on the same hard drive (I want to have a dual boot system). I have Partition Magic, so will I be able to install Linux without formatting? Also, do I have to set up a new partition before installing Linux, or will the Linux installation guide me through creating a new partition?

Thanks for your help.
-Chris

 

[d3funct]

Yes, Linux will guide you through partition creation. You should create your partitions with your windows os as the first partition in the table. If you choose not to partition before installing Linux it shouldn't matter as the Linux FDISK will allow you to keep your windows paritition and just partition from the freespace left on the disk in back of the windows os (keeping in mind you should defrag your drive prior to installation to ensure all freespace comes after the windows installation). Then just chunk out a good size for windows, and give the rest to Linux. I don't know how big your drive is but if it's big enough create a few partitions for Linux, at least like this: /boot 50Mb, / 500Mb, swap (2x RAM), /home 500Mb. It's good to have /home on it's own partition so that if/when you upgrade your distribution you won't have to worry about losing any data in /home. If your disk is not really big say its a 6Gb disk give Windows 3Gb, then partition Linux like this: /boot 50Mb, swap (2x RAM), /home 500Mb, / (the rest). MAKE SURE windows is the first partition on the drive because it needs to be seen first to boot. It will be easiest to use GRUB as your bootloader as it will see your windows filesystem without having to go through all the hoops you'd need to use LILO. Hope this helps. d3funct
zimmer.jon@cfwy.com
The software required `Windows 95 or better', so I installed Linux.