DSL installation help

[apemax]

I what to dual boot DSL with windows xp on my IBM laptop but i have had a look around and I'm not sure how. i can't burn any cd's because i don't have a cd burner but i can boot DSL off my USB stick.

[nujinini]

Hi apemax,

If I were to do this job, I would prepare my HD first using gparted.

Gparted is quite easy to use since it is GUI and as easy as clicking my may to partitioning and formatting my hard drive. You can shrink your windows and also prepare and format the partition that you plan to install the DSL in. Including the swap.

Just in case, you can download a USB version here:

GParted -- Download

EDIT: By the way, please back-up important data first. Have you tried installing any linux distro before? If I may ask

This might be of help too Main Page - DSL Wiki

[apemax]

i have debian on it at the moment and i have installed ubuntu on my other pc as well. i'll partition my hard drive first as well like you said. i would like if possible to keep debian on my HDD as well as windows and DSL.

[nujinini]

In that case you can use the gparted to make the proper allotments and formats of partitions and prepare your system for a triple boot. I think gparted is also available in Debian synaptic.

I remember when I was relatively new, I had my system multibooted with 6 different OSes. But now I just maintained four (XP, Mint, Fedora, Ubuntu) The other OSes are all running in VirtualBox. .

i have installed ubuntu on my other pc as well

In that case I think this will be quite easy for you since you have already prior experience in installation of OS

Good luck!

EDIT: By the way, may I ask how much is your total HD size please?

[apemax]

the total size is 30GB. right now windows has 20GB and debian has 10GB but this being a ibm there was a predesktop area but when i installed debian it deleted it. so once i reinstall the predesktop area i will have a bit less... do you know how much the predesktop area takes up?

[nujinini]

the total size is 30GB. right now windows has 20GB and debian has 10GB

I think these sizes would be fairly enough, granting you would not be saving too many mp3s and other media.

do you know how much the predesktop area takes up?

I'm sorry, I am not familiar with how much space this would take.

[apemax]

aah... ok and no i wouldn't be putting much media on it. i think thats all the information i need. thanks.

[nujinini]

Glad to be of help.

Please feel free to post a new thread about issues you might encounter.

[apemax]

i've just thought off some thing. on the dsl HD install page it says:

3. Execute "dsl-hdinstall" by typing "sudo -u root dsl-hdinstall" (without the quotes)
and enter the just created partition (e.g. /dev/hda1, /dev/sda2)
This will make a ext2 file system and copies the CD contents to it.

my question is do you type in "sudo -u root dsl-hdinstall" and then press the enter key and then "enter the just created partition (e.g. /dev/hda1, /dev/sda2)" or do you type it all on the same line?

[devils casper]

Execute sudo command and it will launch DSL installer. Installer will ask for install location. Type partition name in which you want to install DSL.