Re: tlug: A Question on Creating Linux Partitions

[Steve Dunham <dunham@example.com>]

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tlug note from Steve Dunham <dunham@example.com>
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aleatory <aleatory@example.com> writes:

> I'm a new Linux user, and would like to ask a 
> question. I'm currently trying to install Linux
> on my PC. The problem I currently face is making 
> Linux partitions.

> The following describes the configuration:

>      CPU     : Pentium 100
>      RAM     : 16MB
>      HD      : Western Digital IDE 2.5 GB
>      CD-ROM  : NEC 4x 4 disk changer (IDE) 
>      OS      : Windows 95 (Eng) and NT 4.0 (Jpn)
>      OS Loader: OS Loader Version 4.0 (came with NT)
>      Linux   : Slackware Linux 3.0
>                Kernel 1.2.13 (trying to install)

> The followings are the steps I'm talking.
      
>      1. Boot from a Linux Boot disk
>      2. Then change it to a Linux root disk
>      3. Login as "root"
>      4. Type "fdisk /dev/hda"  
>      5. Type "p"
 
>      Disk dev/hda: 128 heads, 63 sectors, 620 cylinders
>      Unit = cylinder of 8064 * 512 bytes

>      Device    Boot Begin Start End Blocks  Id System
>      /dev/hda1 *    1     1     51  215600+ 6  DOS 16-bit >=32M
>      /dev/hda2      52    52    619 2290176 5  Extended
>      /dev/hda5      52    52    153 411232+ 6  DOS 16-bit >=32M
>      /dev/hda6      154   154   179 104800+ 6  DOS 16-bit >=32M
>      /dev/hda7      180   180   205 104800+ 6  DOS 16-bit >=32M
>      /dev/hda8      206   206   231 104800+ 6  DOS 16-bit >=32M
>      /dev/hda9      232   232   282 205600+ 6  DOS 16-bit >=32M
>      /dev/hda10     283   283   409 512032+ 6  DOS 16-bit >=32M
>      /dev/hda11     410   410   486 310432+ 6  DOS 16-bit >=32M
>      /dev/hda12     487   487   563 310432+ 6  DOS 16-bit >=32M
>      /dev/hda13     564   564   617 225760+ 6  DOS 16-bit >=32M

And you want Linux on /dev/hda10.

You tried to delete /dev/hda10 and create a primary partition in it's
place; you can't do this, because it would be in the middle of
/dev/hda2. (Well, it might be possible, but fdisk won't let you.)

Try to install Linux on /dev/hda10.  I know of no reason why you can't 
install Linux on /dev/hda10.  Change it's type to Linux Ext2, or, if
you want a swap partition, delete it and create two extended
partitions in it's place.

The big problem will be getting Linux to boot, without taking out Win
NT or Win95.  I've used Win95 with Linux, it's fairly easy to handle,
but you are booting NT off of an extended partition.  So I don't know
if the NT boot loader is on /dev/hda2 or the master boot record.

The easiest solution is to boot Linux off of a floppy.

If the Windows NT boot code is on /dev/hda2, we can put Lilo on the
MBR, using the following /etc/lilo.conf:

boot=/dev/hda
root=/dev/hda10
compact
prompt
image=/vmlinuz
 label=linux
 read-only
other=/dev/hda1
 label=win95
 table=/dev/hda
other=/dev/hda2
 label=winnt
 table=/dev/hda

If winnt doesn't use a boot loader on /dev/hda2, I don't know what to
do.. I guess you could copy the MBR to a file and use it as a chain
loader... 

For now, I'd say the safest choice is put Linux on /dev/hda10 and use
a boot floppy.

(It would be a lot easier if you could start over from scratch and 
make the Linux partition a primary partition at the end of the
disk...)


Steve
dunham@example.com


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