Linux partition questions

[Aliens243]

Hi
I want to install my first linux distro(MANDRAKE 9.2). I curently have 2 hd. The first has 10 gigs and win98 on it.
The second(60 gigs) is partitioned in 4*. 2 partitions for data, 1 for windows Xp and the other one for my future linux. I made the partition with partition magic. But my question: Do I need to put it in ext3 file system right now or put it in fat32/ntfs and let the installer convert it? Or, should I let the space unalocated and ask the installer to create a partition from there?

Also, will the boot loader be able to recognize my win98, xp and linux?

As for backups, should I backup my curent boot selector(winXP one that I would like to keep, just add a line to it), or I will be able not to replace it while installing. Wich tool should I use to back it up?

And my final question, will I see the other partitions from linux(all the other are in fat32) and will I see the linux partition from windows??

Thanks in advance
Aliens243

[Slip]

Just leave space for Linux on the harddrive and Mandrake will make and format the partitions by itself (after you select the free space). And bootloader will see all of those Windows OS's.

[Nerderello]

a couple of things.

Yes, Linux can see the other partitions, all you have to do is mount them and they will appear like folders hanging off the /mnt/ folder (check out "man mount" and stuff about your /etc/fstab file)

But, Linux cannot write to a NTFS partition, only read. But then, that's a damn site better than any of Uncle Bill's OSs, which can't see any non-FAT or NTFS partitions (there are downloadable utilities to allow you to READ file sinto Windows from Linux.

You don't seem to have mentioned any SWAP partition. You should create one of these (your distro installer will be happy to help you out if you like) with a size of ABOUT twice the total RAM you have on your PC. It acts in the same way that the swapper.dat file does in Windows.

As to backups, please remember the thre rules of computing that I was taught back in the 80s. Rule 1. Backup your work, Rule 2. Backup your work. Rule 3. Backup your work.

have fun

Nerderello

[Aliens243]

First of all, thanks for the answers.
Just to make absolutly sure, when you say"Just leave space for Linux on the harddrive", you mean leave unalocated space in partition magic?
As for the swap partition,I will create one.
I don't have any drive in ntfs, they are in fat32. Can Linux read from fat32? Write?
Thanks again in advance
Aliens243

[Giro]

Yes FAT32 can be read and writen to from linux. And yes leave a partition unallowcated linux will sort it out.

[zegos]

I like to Setup a /Boot, Swap, /(root), /usr, /var, and /home partitions. /Boot can be small, 30mb is fine. Also I make /var and /home Ext3. You really want to create all your standard partitions. If you lose a partition, you don't necasarilly lose everything like Windows. You can just restore the bad partition, and get up and running quicker, at least from a Server standpoint.

Cheers, Zegos!

[King Conga]

Giro,

You answered EXACTLY what I had been searching for Re: FAT32! What's the access, thruput speed with ext(X) drives, as compared to FAT32? My main concern is processing 24/96 multitrk audio as fast as possible. How should defragging be managed as compared to Win2k? I'm EXTREMELY anal about defragging. Which format defrags better?

Tanx Again,
KingConga

[Giro]

You dont need to defrag in Linux the filesystems used rarely do fragment. And I have not been able to find any comparison of the filesystems.

[King Conga]

Thanks Giro. Can you still clear something up? It might be a silly question, I thought it was the file system, as opposed to the particular OS that determines the degree of fragmentation?

Tanx Again,
King Conga

[Giro]

Yes some file systems fragment more then others but im not 100% sure why they do.