Partitioning for Ubuntu

[TrainTrackHack]

I'm installing Hardy on a virtual machine. I want upgrading from version to another to be as convenient and hassle-free as possible. The question is: how many partitions should I create, and how should I mount them? I heard that I should have partition 'X' for the os itself and partition 'Y' for programs/files (and, say, 'Z' for swap) so that I could reformat partition 'X' and reinstall/upgrade without losing any of my personal files, and my programs would be ready to use... this right? If so, I have a question: if I install, say, ubuntu, and later replace it with other distro like Mandriva, will my programs previously installed work without any hassle? If not, how easy can this get, and how?

 

[patrickv]

Linux is not windows mate, you cannot upgrade to Mandriva from ubuntu.. u can do ubuntu-->ubuntu ...
For the partition you will need a swap, a root and "other" assign it as "home".
That's how i used to do mine but that was gaziliion years ago i maybe wrong

 

[sg1]

Linux is not windows mate,

Thank F**K for that !!!!!!!!

@ Hackapelite , As for mounting in a virtual drive- you obviously were planing to just test out different Distros so I would have thought you would have placed your "personal files" in a more permenant location.

just my opinion