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Forum nameThe Computer Forum
Topic subjectLinux question
Topic URLhttp://www.pcqanda.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=2&topic_id=207010
207010, Linux question
Posted by _Chewy_, Fri Mar-21-03 06:22 AM
I'm a first time soon-to-be Linux user. I would like to install Mandrake 8.1 on a 2nd hard drive that is 500 MB.

Question: is this big enough? and if not, what size will be sufficient. I already have a primary 40 GB HDD that i use for W2K and several partitions on it (FAT 32) to store my data.

I know NOT to use FDISK to format the 2nd HDD but wonder how I can format the data to prepare it for the linux installation. Will linux automatically format it during the installation process? TIA.
207011, RE: Linux question
Posted by quint, Fri Mar-21-03 07:19 AM
Partition Magic 8.0 will do it. I'm sure that Mandrake has a partitioner, also, though I don't know anything about it. PM8 worked great for me, and comes with BootMagic, also. Linux is certainly worth it, and I am a total newbie to it.

edit: Do not know if fdisk will do it as Linux, I think, uses an "ext2" system, as well as a "linux swap" partition; also don't know if 500MB is sufficient. One of the Linux experts will see this I'm sure.


quint
207012, RE: Linux question
Posted by Horatio, Fri Mar-21-03 07:32 AM
Chewy,
Just curious, why Mandrake 8.1? Mandrake 9 is out and it is a very slick OS. Doubt if you would be able to squeeze it onto the 500 gig. or if you did, you certainly wouldn't have any room left for much software. I'm not really certain about the 500 meg size, but I'm sure Grogan, BobGuy, or MrMan will see this and let you know if that is possible.

When I installed Mandrake 8.2 and then later ver. 9, I gave it about 6 gigs.
The thing I would do is resize your partitions with Partition Magic in order to leave unallocated (unpartitioned) space on the end of your 40 gig. drive if you have the free space available. The Mandrake install will find that unallocated space and give you the option to install to it. It will even auto allocate the amounts for the Linux partitions if you use the 'auto allocate' option.
As you have your data on FAT 32 partitions, you would be able to move it to or view it from your Linux OS.

Try it, you will like it.
207013, RE: Linux question
Posted by _Chewy_, Tue Mar-25-03 10:00 PM
Horatio, you got some links for Linux s/w i can look at? Like i said, i'm a total newbie. Thanks.
207014, RE: Linux question
Posted by Horatio, Tue Mar-25-03 10:33 PM
>Horatio, you got some links for Linux s/w i can look at?
>Like i said, i'm a total newbie. Thanks.


Chewy,
You mentioned you were on dial up at the moment so why don't you just buy the 3 Mandrake CDs? Look at the link below. Around $10.00 for all three.
All the software you could want is there on those three disks.

http://www.tuxcds.com/item.php?item=72
207015, RE: Linux question
Posted by MrMan, Tue Mar-25-03 10:41 PM
For distros check Horatio's link.
For finding Linux software, you can't beat Freshmeat. Other good Linux software repositories are LinuxApps and The Linux Game Tome.
207016, RE: Linux question
Posted by MrMan, Fri Mar-21-03 07:33 AM
The recommended installation of Mandrake takes around 2GB, I believe. You can use the Expert install to customize the packages, but I wouldn't recommend that for a begineer.
Mandrake comes with DiskDrake, which allows you to resize the partitions during installation. If you choose to use this, make sure you backup all your data first.

"Will linux automatically format it during the installation process?"

Yes, Mandrake will take care of that for you.
207017, RE: Linux question
Posted by _Chewy_, Fri Mar-21-03 07:40 AM
OK, i wouldn't mind trying v 9.0, but this one i have is freeeeee. :)

The reason why i'm interested in getting a 2nd HDD is that:
a) I won't have to mess around with my primary HDD (i.e. worry about data loss, formatting, or partitioning etc.)

b) It is getting somewhat getting full, and wanted to spare what space i have for my W2K applications and personal data.

c) I was told NOT to install Linux on a non-partitioned HDD. I dont know why that is important with Mandrake but in any case, after i heard that I figured I would not install it on my current HDD.
207018, RE: Linux question
Posted by Horatio, Fri Mar-21-03 07:53 AM
>>>I was told NOT to install Linux on a non-partitioned HDD. I dont know why that is important with Mandrake but in any case, after i heard that I figured I would not install it on my current HDD.<<<

Are you sure you don't mean you were told not to install Linux onto a partitioned hard drive?
Linux wants to make its own partitions; it wants unallocated or unpartitioned space. You don't install it onto Windows partitions.

If your forty gig. is getting full then yes you would want another hard drive for Mandrake, but like MrMan said, absolute minimum would be 2 gigs. Four to Six would be better, because once you see all the software that is available for Mandrake you're gonna want a lot of it.

Bye the way, Mandrake 9 is also FREE!!.

;)
207019, RE: Linux question
Posted by MrMan, Fri Mar-21-03 07:53 AM
If you absolutely can't get anymore space, 500MB will do, but you will need to go through the Expert install. Make sure you have a hard-copy of the documentation handy or a second computer so that you can have access to the docs online.
Anyway, you'll need to go through all the packages and get rid of the ones you don't need. This will probably take awhile, but it shouldn't be too hard since there's descriptions available for every package. If you don't still don't understand what a package is after reading the desription, don't mess with it.

"c) I was told NOT to install Linux on a non-partitioned HDD."

Mandrake will handle all the partitioning and formatting stuff for you.
207020, RE: Linux question
Posted by quint, Fri Mar-21-03 07:55 AM
Mandrake 9.0 is free , also:

http://linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=29

edit: I type too slow.


quint
207021, RE: Linux question
Posted by _Chewy_, Fri Mar-21-03 10:12 AM
Horatio and Quint, I didn't know version 9 was a free d/l. Since i'm on dial-up right now, i'm gonna see if what happens w/ my move and see if i can get a good deal on cable at the new place.
207022, RE: Linux question
Posted by Grogan, Fri Mar-21-03 08:34 AM
500 Mb is nowhere near enough. Sure, if you choose Expert mode and are very careful in what packages you install, you might pull it off but you won't be happy with that. You wouldn't even know what packages you're going to want.

Even 2 gigabytes as mentioned, is not enough to install very much software. I would say, you want at the very least 4 Gb to have a useful Mandrake installation.

If you want to squeeze a distribution onto a small space, Mandrake is not the distribution for it.
207023, RE: Linux question
Posted by _Chewy_, Fri Mar-21-03 10:10 AM
>Even 2 gigabytes as mentioned, is not enough to install very
>much software. I would say, you want at the very least 4 Gb
>to have a useful Mandrake installation.

*sigh* looks like i'm gonna have to save up my pennies for a new 20 or 40 GB HDD.

Thanks everyone i'll report back on how my Linux venture goes. :)
207024, RE: Linux question
Posted by mcnallyjp, Fri Mar-21-03 01:37 PM
Hello Chewy,

While you are waiting for high speed access and a new HDD, you might like to try Knoppix. A version of Linux that runs from a cd. ie no installation to your HDD. You can save settings between sessions on a floppy.

Running Knoppix would give you a taste of Linux and give you a chance to check out your hardware to see if it is suitable for running Linux.

It is still a large download though. 600 plus MB. If you were interested I could snail mail a copy,
207025, RE: Linux question
Posted by _Chewy_, Fri Mar-21-03 11:43 PM
Excellent, I'll take you up on that offer, thank you.
(Check your PM box :) )
207026, RE: Linux question
Posted by mcnallyjp, Sat Mar-22-03 12:04 AM
PM Replied to,