<WARNING - LONG ANSWER>
On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 09:51:24 -0700, Josh Ricker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hello to all, > > I am new to Linux and have some questions about installing Sarge on a > Windows 2000 machine. Welcome!! Congrats on picking Sarge! > I want to partition the hard drive and have > dual boot functionality. I read online last night (in a couple of > places) that Linux won't boot if it is installed past 1024 cylinders > on the drive. I remember reding this somewhere... and I think that that comment was based on an old version of LILO. Debian Sarge uses GRUB... I think you'll be ok - but you should look around more. > So I need to set up a partition before that point on > the drive...no problem...but, my drive is formatted in NTFS and not > Fat32. So I downloaded a trial of PartitionMagic 8.0 to do the > partitioning. I haven't taken any action yet, because I still had > some questions about it. > > 1. Can I partition the drive and format the new partition as Fat32 and > leave the first part of the disk as NTFS? > 2. If the above mentioned is ok, how do I load sarge onto the new partition? > 3. If the above mentioned is NOT ok, what do I do? > Don't do any of this if this is your first time. Remember: Partitioning/Installing Rule #1: Backup, backup, backup. You should be completely prepared to lose _all_ of the information on your hard drive, and restore _everything_ from backups _if_ you want to do Debian Sarge as your _very first_ install. I'm not talking just the word docs you wrote for engl115 - but everything. OS to drivers to games to whatever. > Any help is much appreciated! > > Josh The other comments are good advice, and I would suggest a few things... -before these steps, learn what a LiveCD is... you'll want to try that out before you use an install cd - 1. Get SuSE 9.2 or 9.1 (it plays very nicely with an existing windows install) -or- 2. Use a derivative of Debian as your _first_ linux experience. If you like the look of Gnome, use Ubuntu. If you like the look of KDE, use either SimplyMepis or Knoppix. -then- 3. If you decide that you like one of the Debian derivatives, feel free to use the Debian Sarge (Netinstall version if you have a good internet connection) to install a fresh debian system on top of the one you tested. In other words.... If you like SuSE - stick with it for a while, or Try a LiveCD version of SimplyMepis, Ubuntu, or Knoppix and if you like it install it and use it for a while, then If you want to, install Debian Sarge. You'll probably hear a lot of talk about how Debian is not newbie friendly - and that used to be the case. It really has changed, and the current installer (while still non-GUI-ish) is perfectly fine. The new installer will even play fairly nicely with a preexisting install of windows, but you need to know what you're doing or you'll be in big trouble. The fear of having 'big trouble' your first time around is what prompts all of us to encourage you to try something that has a reputation of keeping first time users out of trouble... something like Ubuntu, or SuSE, or Knoppix. Anyway... I've rambled enough. I was in your shoes about 6 or 8 months ago, and I've completely switched from Windows to Debian Sarge, so if you have questions I _might_ be able to help. If I can't help, then somebody here probably can. -Rich -------------------- BYU Unix Users Group http://uug.byu.edu/ The opinions expressed in this message are the responsibility of their author. They are not endorsed by BYU, the BYU CS Department or BYU-UUG. ___________________________________________________________________ List Info: http://uug.byu.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/
