Soon to be Linux user with slightly advanced questions

[i92guboj]

So it looks like I'll be running just the version of Vista the laptop comes with, a version of Linux, and then a place for another Linux that can be easily swapped out for tinkering.

The only thing I need to know still is how to partition my drives correctly. I have one HDD and it's 500GB.

If you don't want to erase and reinstall windows you will need to resize the windows partition to make some room for linux. There are programs that can do that. However, and in any case, save a backup if you value your data.

Once you have the room for linux, you just need to create at least one partition for each linux you want to install. It doesn't matter if it's a primary partition or a logical drive inside an extended one. Linux doesn't care about that. One partition is the bare minimum, you can however do more complicated setups but for the time being just one will do the job. You can as well allocate a partition for swap, though it's not strictly needed (you can set up a file to be used as swap space).

[pmacdonald]

How should I backup my data? (I have a backup drive created from when I first set up the computer [E: Drive]...should I use that?)

Does vista come with a resizing tool?

My backup drive counts a primary partition correct?

After I resize vista can't I just run the Linux installation and set up the other drive from in there?

Thanks for the help thus far.

[i92guboj]

How should I backup my data? (I have a backup drive created from when I first set up the computer [E: Drive]...should I use that?)

You can use whatever you want, but when possible, a separate media that's not physically attached to the box is preferred. That way, you won't screw up something if you choose the wrong disk when partitioning.

Does vista come with a resizing tool?

So it seems, I never used it, so I have no idea how complete it is, I just found this:

Resize a Partition for Free in Windows Vista :: the How-To Geek

My backup drive counts a primary partition correct?

The backup drive layout is independent of the layout of your first and main drive where the OS will live. It really doesn't matter whether it contains a primary or extended partition, since it's just a place to store data.

After I resize vista can't I just run the Linux installation and set up the other drive from in there?

The usual way to install linux is to boot the installation disk and install from there. There are some distros that might have a windows installer, but I personally never tested those, and I can't give you names right now.

[pmacdonald]

I'll head over to the store tomorrow to pick up some CD's to back up my data.

Thanks for that link and it answered my question about wheather it was a primary drive or not (it is).

I'm still not sure about the following though:

• Do I create a primary partition before entering the Linux CD into my CD-ROM drive?
  
  
• How should I set up my HDD partitions as far as swap space and the other Linux install is concerned (the tinkering Linux)?

[i92guboj]

Do I create a primary partition before entering the Linux CD into my CD-ROM drive?

You just need to have free space, the installer usually allows you to create, delete and set up partitions. However, if you want, you can create them before entering the installer, it doesn't harm either. Both ways are ok.

How should I set up my HDD partitions as far as swap space and the other Linux install is concerned (the tinkering Linux)?

Each one has his preferences here. But what I'd do is this:

• shrink the windows partition, that is a primary partition, no need to care about that one
• create an extended partition with all the free space
• inside the extended partition, create as much logical drives as linux versions you want to install + 1 for swap, the swap partition can be shared between all the distros, and it's size would be usually between 512 mb and the size of your ram (if you want to use hibernation and things like that)

The size of the each partition will only depend on what do you plan to install.

[computerophil]

So it looks like I'll be running just the version of Vista the laptop comes with, a version of Linux, and then a place for another Linux that can be easily swapped out for tinkering.

As I don't like Vista I inform myself at the productors page which drivers are available for the PC I am interested to buy. So I can downgrade to XP withous problems.

The only thing I need to know still is how to partition my drives correctly. I have one HDD and it's 500GB.

As you plan to use Ubuntu you can use the CD as a Live CD.
It contains also a program called GParted.

Sure it is allways recommended to save data but if your PC/Laptop is brand new there will not be much data that can be lost - so forget it.

• You should start into Windows and defragmentate your partition.
• Start into LiveCD
• Start GParted
• reduce the Windows-partition lets say to 50GB
• create a Primary-partition at the end of the free space lets say 1 GB to be formatted later with Linux-swap
• create an extended Primary-partition for all the space left in between.
• into the new partition create as many virtual (logical) Partitions as you want. => e.g.
  one for data (ntfs formatted to have access from Windows and from Linux) and at least
  one per each Linux distro you want to have on your PC (formatted ext3)
• press apply so that the partitions are created and formatted

If you don't want to erase and reinstall windows you will need to resize the windows partition to make some room for linux. There are programs that can do that. However, and in any case, save a backup if you value your data.

The most used is the Linux program GParted

Once you have the room for linux, you just need to create at least one partition for each linux you want to install. It doesn't matter if it's a primary partition or a logical drive inside an extended one. Linux doesn't care about that. One partition is the bare minimum, you can however do more complicated setups but for the time being just one will do the job. You can as well allocate a partition for swap, though it's not strictly needed (you can set up a file to be used as swap space).

Best way is to have a swap-partition as a primary one ( this is the traditional way and all Linuxes can work with that) even if UBUNTU and also some others can do also with a logical swap-partition it is not to be recommended.

[i92guboj]

*Any* linux can work with a logical drive, it's not a distro thing, it's something that's handled directly by the kernel and the basic gnu tools (mount). Same applies to a loopback fs contained within a file for swap. There's no downside in doing so either nowadays. Swap files are not threated like normal files, and there's no performance penalty in using such scheme, unless you are having some nasty fragmentation problem.

But don't take my word on it, you can read Andrew Morton's words on the issue.

LKML: Andrew Morton: Re: Swap partition vs swap file

The files used for swap are not threated like normal files, all the i/o is done directly, bypassing the fs. It is referenced based on offsets that are computed when adding the swap to the virtual memory pool. In that regard, it's *exactly* the same if you use a file, a primary partition or a logical drive. Linux doesn't care at all, it's just an offset from the starting of the disk, nothing else.

[computerophil]

*Any* linux can work with a logical drive, ...

You are right any distro can handle a logical drive but not all can handle a swap-partition in a logical drive.

[i92guboj]

I respectfully disagree

All you need is a line on your fstab file to add the swap partition. Of course, you also need support for loopback fs's, again, it's a kernel thing. You can use the feature on any distro as long as your kernel is correctly configured.

[computerophil]

I respectfully disagree

All you need is a line on your fstab file to add the swap partition. Of course, you also need support for loopback fs's, again, it's a kernel thing. You can use the feature on any distro as long as your kernel is correctly configured.

OK - we both have different opinions and expirence.
I also said from beginning that Ubuntu can do it ( but I don't reccommend it)
I think best way always is to keep to the traditional methods. These are most reliable. So it would be good if you can except this. Otherwise a discussion would lead us to far away from the theme of the thread and newcomers would be extremely confused.

This way (even if there exist various ways and methods) to tell a newbie what to do - step by step - is easier to intend and therfor a better help.