Partitioning with Fdisk

Forum: HD Install
Topic: Partitioning with Fdisk
started by: Chasehead

Posted by Chasehead on May 03 2006,14:06

Hey everyone, I've been trying to install damn small linux on my 4gig pentium 2 laptop, but I don't know how to partition my hard drive properly...like when I open Fdisk, I get a dos prompt and I don't know exactly what type of partition I have to make for dsl to work (FAT32, etc.?).

Also, I have another computer that I'm trying to install on as well, but I don't have a working OS on it (some left over files are left though), so I was wondering how I could format the whole hard drive to use entirely for DSL through just a DSL or maybe a windows 98 disk?

Help would be unbelievably appreciated!

Posted by doobit on May 03 2006,14:22

I think most people find that cfdisk is easier because you get visible menus on the screen. Start by deleting the current partitions and then write three new ones. The first one should be Primary, bootable, and Linux, the second should be logical, linux and swap, and the third can be primary or logical and Linux. Then format them with mke2fs and mkswap (for swap).
< http://www.lissot.net/partition/ >

Posted by Chasehead on May 03 2006,15:25

I would like to keep my windows partition though...Do I have to delete it for these steps to work?

Posted by doobit on May 03 2006,15:53

If you want to keep your windows partition, but already have other partitions, then just delete and reformat the others, and the Windows partition will be preserved. If you only have one big Windows partition, then you will need to resize it with qparted, or something equal to that.

Posted by newOldUser on May 03 2006,16:41

Chasehead - Just a word to the wise. Make a backup of your windows data before you start the partition process. A slip of the finger on the keyboard or the wrong mouse click can wipe out your data in an instant.

Also if you need to resize the windows partition do a defrag (part of the disk tools in windows) on it first.

Some places to look for graphical partitioning software are:

The SystemRescueCD: < http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page >

The GParted LiveCD: < http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php >

DSL will work with a EXT2 type partition. I don't remember if it works with EXT3 or Reiser but I'm sure if you do a forum seach you might find something.

Good luck.

Posted by pr0f3550r on May 03 2006,17:06

Todo: qparted.dsl

Posted by Chasehead on May 03 2006,22:42

I can't seem to find cfdisk.exe anywhere! Searched the net and everything...I will have to use fdisk on my windows 98 boot disk to make it FAT32. I read up on it and I'm pretty sure DSL will be compatible with it. Thank you very much for the feedback though!