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| Thread ID: 46252 | 2004-06-18 03:12:00 | Partition Drive to install Fedora Core 1 | Antonia (730) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 245655 | 2004-06-18 03:12:00 | I think it was JenC who recently recommended the 101 Linux course for beginners . I enrolled and am thoroughly enjoying the experience . Most of what we have dealt with so far is totally new to me . Linux, downloading the 3 ISO files for the installation (took about 90 hours by 56k dial up) burning the files to discs and finding out through the Linux media check that they are OK . I now have to partition the C drive to accommodate the Linux system . I am using Partition Magic 8 to do this . The wizard suggests a primary drive, file system ext/2 . Here are my questions: 1 . What is a reasonable size for Fedora ? Have to stay under 8 GB, something to do with the booting for Win XP ? 2 . A partition for the swap file is suggested . Is that created at the same time? Will be twice the RAM , so 512 mb . Will that be on a logical drive? 3 . Is it advisable to install Partition Bootmagic and have it enabled before and during the installation? Does it handle the Linux system OK? 4 . Anything else I will have to watch for or check on? I could probably find the answers myself if I did more background reading, but my brain is just about on breaking point and ready to short circuit with all the reading I have done since the course started . Thanks JenC for suggesting the course . |
Antonia (730) | ||
| 245656 | 2004-06-18 03:25:00 | > Here are my questions: > 1 . What is a reasonable size for Fedora ? Have to stay under 8 GB, something to do with the booting for Win XP ? I allowed around 5GB for Core 1 and soon ran out of room when I started adding more apps and downloading the updates . For Core 2 I have allocated 10GB which should be plenty . If you can afford to give yours 8GB I would do so, otherwise as much as you can . > 2 . A partition for the swap file is suggested . Is that created at the same time? Will be twice the RAM, so 512 mb . Will that be on a logical drive? I would suggest that you create 8GB of free space on your hard drive . By that, I mean use PM to shrink your Windows partition to allow 8GB (or whatever size you have decided upon) then leave the spare space empty - do not create another partition . In Windows it will show up in Disk Management as unallocated space . When you go to install Fedora and it gets to the partitioning part, tell it to use the free space remaining on the hard drive . It will then do all its own partitioning for itself, creating its swap and boot partitions . > 3 . Is it advisable to install Partition Bootmagic and have it enabled before and during the installation? Does it handle the Linux system OK? See above - create free space and don't worry about partitioning it . > 4 . Anything else I will have to watch for or check on? Backup, backup and backup all the data and files you do not want to lose, just in case, then go for it . :-) |
dudess_on_a_mish (4468) | ||
| 245657 | 2004-06-18 06:35:00 | Hi Antonia :) Dudess_on_a_mish has set you on the right track with installing Fedora . You don't want to use Partition Magic to format the new Linux partitions as it often causes problems, especially as Fedora uses ext3 and not ext2 file system . As already mentioned, leaving the new partition unformatted (unallocated) is the best thing to do . Anaconda, the Fedora installer program will make a beeline for the new partition (check your settings to confirm this first though) . If Windows is on the first partition of your hard drive, this will be hda1 . If you only have one other partition (the unallocated one) it will be referred to as hda2 . >A partition for the swap file is suggested . Anaconda will automatically create a swap parition if you use the automatic partitioning wizard during the installation . It will suggest appropriate sized /boot / and swap partitons using the available free space . It normally sets aside double your installed RAM, so if you currently have 256 MB or RAM, a swap partition of 512 MB will be created . >downloading the 3 ISO files for the installation (took about 90 hours by 56k dial up) Ouch! Next time ask here on PF1 if anyone would send you the discs by mail - I myself would of been more than happy to burn you a copy which would of saved you that huge download :) >Thanks JenC for suggesting the course . You are very welcome . Don't hesitate to ask us if you have any problems or questions . Enjoy your course and your introduction to Linux :) |
Jen C (20) | ||
| 245658 | 2004-06-18 06:58:00 | For the basic set of kernel and app's required for the course you will need about 2GB of HDD space. I looks kike you have plenty of room so allow 4GB for later additions. You won't need to do a new core for a will so won't need the extra space upgrading requires. Cheers Murray P |
Murray P (44) | ||
| 245659 | 2004-06-18 15:14:00 | Oh dear!! Thank you all for the help . The drive decreased in size without difficulty . Unused space was made available . Install went smoothly, but after that it was all bad news . Grub did not function properly . Every boot went to WinXP, although Fedora flashed past . During the install I had added WinXp to the bootloader and made WinXp the default . I put the bootloader on the boot drive, not the MBR . Seemed the best option when I was given the choice . That may have been wrong . Eventually I managed to get to Fedora by Powerquest bootmanager from within windows . that first took me to the to the Main Menu - Service Tag, which does Express Test, Extended Test, Custom Test and symptom Tree . When I closed that window the Pc booted to Fedora and all seemed well . Tests were done, all OK apart from a questionmark about the CDR . And the screen display was not right . Did not fill the whole screen, the resolution seemed incorrect . I had a look at all the programs, created the user a/c . Closed the PC . down . When I later rebooted, the Dell Logo flashed past and then the Grub selection came on screen, giving me the option of Fedora Core, WinXP and Dos, with WinXP highlighted as the default . But none of the options work . When I select Fedora the bios starts to roll past and then the screen goes black with nothing to follow . The only way to shut down is by switching off at the wall . If I select WinXP I the Main Menu - Service Tag appears . When I close that I am back at grub with the boot options . Grub does give options to edit the bootloader, but I do not know or recognise the choice of the possible commands: background blocklist boot cat chainloader clear cmp, and more . So what are my options? Can I try to boot with the installation disk and reinstall the program and how can I get the bootloader Grub correctly installed in the right place . Or should I try to get a Bootimage for WinXp on a CD and format the Fedora drive, delete the drive and do a fresh install of Fedora? Thank you in advance for a solution to the mess I am in . |
Antonia (730) | ||
| 245660 | 2004-06-18 21:45:00 | Yes you should have put grub in the MBR. The easiest way for you is to do a fresh install doing that. There is an issue with core 2 and also booting Windows |
mikebartnz (21) | ||
| 245661 | 2004-06-18 21:51:00 | Grub wont get re-installed unless you're modifying kernel packages, and you wont be doing that during and install, so my advice: Delete the Partitions with Partition Magic and start from scratch. If you're using Fedora Core 1 then Grub will be fine, just let it install itself to the MBR. Make a Boot Floppy too so if you get stuck in Windows you can boot it from the floppy later on when you've got docs etc that you cant just simply format. Either that or we can teach you how to hack up your grub.conf file, but that's probably for another day.... ;-) Chill. |
Chilling_Silence (9) | ||
| 245662 | 2004-06-18 21:54:00 | Hi Antonia As mikebartnz suggests, the best way to is just reinstall Fedora. You do not need to wipe the drive, just reinstall over the top of the current Fedora installation. Boot from the installation CD again and it will automatically detect the Linux partitions that now exist. Say Yes, to re-use the current Linux partitions and use the "Upgrade" option to reinstall FC (it doesn't matter you are not really upgrading). |
Jen C (20) | ||
| 245663 | 2004-06-18 21:57:00 | > Grub wont get re-installed unless you're modifying kernel packages, and you wont be doing that during and install, so my advice: > Delete the Partitions with Partition Magic and start from scratch. OK then, best go with what Chill says if Grub is not automatically reinstalled during a "upgrade". I didn't realise that. :) |
Jen C (20) | ||
| 245664 | 2004-06-19 01:11:00 | Thanks to all. Trying all options and suggestions. Problem not solved as yet, but are working on it.We can at the moment run Fedora, but cannot get into Windows. Can get into Dos with floppy. Will let you know what the final outcome is. Bye for now Antonia |
Antonia (730) | ||
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