going to install linux

Maurik · 12-11-2004, 06:57 PM

I've decided to install linux - fedora 3 core , I wanna run an XP / Linux dual boot.

At the mo im having some queries. I have a 80gb harddrive. I have partioned it c:\ = 30 gb & d:\ = 50 gb I have XP Pro installed on the d:\ drive. At first i thought there'd be little problems.

However just recently while testing a file explorer program i made in vb6 i notced that the c:\ drive contains certain "valuable" files which are not visible in windows explorer unless i have "do not show system files" off...

I'm worried that if i install linux on my c:\ drive it will be formatted and XP will not be able to start up as it needs those files...

here's which files they are:

What should i do?!

Alphatronix · 12-12-2004, 02:58 PM

well, those files are there no matter what. When you formated the drive, those system files where put on the drive...

About the linux/xp duel, you could do it but expect some problems, but i dont think it would be anything serious... those hidden files are one every drive that is formated.

Maurik · 12-12-2004, 03:31 PM

ah ok, so if i format the c:\ drive to fat32 cos linux dosnt work with ntfs the files should still be there?
tnx 4 the reply

Verrona · 12-12-2004, 07:45 PM

As u r running Win XP Pro on ur D: with in installed. The u will be able to install Linux on ur C: with no problem. However I would recommend backing uo everything on ur D: cos IT does tend 2 delete everything on all partitions!!. This is because u have to install Linux on first, Linux creates the duel boot partition. U can have xp on their first but i wouldn't risk it.

Trust me i'm a bastad!

Maurik · 12-22-2004, 01:19 PM

I found out that the master boot record is on the c:\ drive so Windows is actually booting up from the C drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verrona

However I would recommend backing uo everything on ur D: cos IT does tend 2 delete everything on all partitions!!. This is because u have to install Linux on first, Linux creates the duel boot partition. U can have xp on their first but i wouldn't risk it.

I installed ubuntu on my back up Pc and it made its own partition and left the XP Pro one alone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verrona

As u r running Win XP Pro on ur D: with in installed. The u will be able to install Linux on ur C: with no problem.

Not so cos i need to convert the drive to fat32 it is ntfs at the mo.

However, what i wanna do now is merge the c:\ and the d:\ partitions so that i can create a new partition on which to install Linux. Now the question is - which program can do that for me.
I have tried partition magic, however that will only let me merge them if i put the contents of the d:\ drive in a FOLDER on the new c:\ drive (if u get what i mean)

What are my options now? Could i do that /\ or could i move the mbr to the d:\ drive or will formatting the c:\ drive not delete the mbr?

Verrona · 12-22-2004, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurik

I found out that the master boot record is on the c:\ drive so Windows is actually booting up from the C drive.

I installed ubuntu on my back up Pc and it made its own partition and left the XP Pro one alone.

Not so cos i need to convert the drive to fat32 it is ntfs at the mo.

However, what i wanna do now is merge the c:\ and the d:\ partitions so that i can create a new partition on which to install Linux. Now the question is - which program can do that for me.
I have tried partition magic, however that will only let me merge them if i put the contents of the d:\ drive in a FOLDER on the new c:\ drive (if u get what i mean)

What are my options now? Could i do that /\ or could i move the mbr to the d:\ drive or will formatting the c:\ drive not delete the mbr?

I installed Linux on my laptop (duel boot), however i didn't use Partition Magic so i must have done it differently.

The answer to that question, Y do u want 2 create another partition 4??

Maurik · 12-22-2004, 04:50 PM

cos i figured that i cannot save the MBR from being deleted, there are some system files on th c:\ drive also (see screeny 1). So i have to try to merge the partitions into 1 c:\ drive and then I have to let the linux installer create a partition ( d:\). Any ideas?

EDIT: alrite alrite, alll I wanna know now is if i can format the c:\ drive and retain the files seen in the first post?!

Verrona · 12-23-2004, 03:29 PM

I believe that u can.

Maurik · 12-31-2004, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verrona

I believe that u can.

w00t! i believe i will do it then, thanks for all the help people

12-11-2004, 06:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Maurik Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 63	going to install linux I've decided to install linux - fedora 3 core , I wanna run an XP / Linux dual boot. At the mo im having some queries. I have a 80gb harddrive. I have partioned it c:\ = 30 gb & d:\ = 50 gb I have XP Pro installed on the d:\ drive. At first i thought there'd be little problems. However just recently while testing a file explorer program i made in vb6 i notced that the c:\ drive contains certain "valuable" files which are not visible in windows explorer unless i have "do not show system files" off... I'm worried that if i install linux on my c:\ drive it will be formatted and XP will not be able to start up as it needs those files... here's which files they are: What should i do?! __________________ =-=-=Maurik=-=-= Click Main Box - Homebrew ;) ECS EZ BUDDIE AMD 2500+ Barton @ 1.9ghz 256mb PC 3200 DDR ram (soon to be 768mb) 80gb Maxtor Diamond Plus 9 108MB/s wlan LG CD-RW/DVD-Rom Drive Onboard 6.1 sound GeForce 4 MX 440 SE With AGP 8x 128mb Refurbishing Dell IBEG-2 Slot P3 700Mhz 128MB Rambus "Rimms" 20gb Maxtor DVD Drive CD-RW Drive Creative 5.1 Soundblaster Live nVidia Riva TNT 2 M64 32Mb

12-12-2004, 03:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
Maurik Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 63	ah ok, so if i format the c:\ drive to fat32 cos linux dosnt work with ntfs the files should still be there? tnx 4 the reply __________________ =-=-=Maurik=-=-= Click Main Box - Homebrew ;) ECS EZ BUDDIE AMD 2500+ Barton @ 1.9ghz 256mb PC 3200 DDR ram (soon to be 768mb) 80gb Maxtor Diamond Plus 9 108MB/s wlan LG CD-RW/DVD-Rom Drive Onboard 6.1 sound GeForce 4 MX 440 SE With AGP 8x 128mb Refurbishing Dell IBEG-2 Slot P3 700Mhz 128MB Rambus "Rimms" 20gb Maxtor DVD Drive CD-RW Drive Creative 5.1 Soundblaster Live nVidia Riva TNT 2 M64 32Mb

12-12-2004, 07:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
Verrona Gold Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: UK Age: 21 Posts: 358	As u r running Win XP Pro on ur D: with in installed. The u will be able to install Linux on ur C: with no problem. However I would recommend backing uo everything on ur D: cos IT does tend 2 delete everything on all partitions!!. This is because u have to install Linux on first, Linux creates the duel boot partition. U can have xp on their first but i wouldn't risk it. Trust me i'm a bastad! __________________ Regards, Verrona -- How to ask a question.

12-22-2004, 04:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Maurik Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 63	cos i figured that i cannot save the MBR from being deleted, there are some system files on th c:\ drive also (see screeny 1). So i have to try to merge the partitions into 1 c:\ drive and then I have to let the linux installer create a partition ( d:\). Any ideas? EDIT: alrite alrite, alll I wanna know now is if i can format the c:\ drive and retain the files seen in the first post?! __________________ =-=-=Maurik=-=-= Click Main Box - Homebrew ;) ECS EZ BUDDIE AMD 2500+ Barton @ 1.9ghz 256mb PC 3200 DDR ram (soon to be 768mb) 80gb Maxtor Diamond Plus 9 108MB/s wlan LG CD-RW/DVD-Rom Drive Onboard 6.1 sound GeForce 4 MX 440 SE With AGP 8x 128mb Refurbishing Dell IBEG-2 Slot P3 700Mhz 128MB Rambus "Rimms" 20gb Maxtor DVD Drive CD-RW Drive Creative 5.1 Soundblaster Live nVidia Riva TNT 2 M64 32Mb Last edited by Maurik; 12-22-2004 at 09:24 PM.

12-23-2004, 03:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
Verrona Gold Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: UK Age: 21 Posts: 358	I believe that u can. __________________ Regards, Verrona -- How to ask a question.

12-12-2004, 02:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Alphatronix Silver Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 174	well, those files are there no matter what. When you formated the drive, those system files where put on the drive... About the linux/xp duel, you could do it but expect some problems, but i dont think it would be anything serious... those hidden files are one every drive that is formated.

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