I'm a newb but this is a suse question

[Selfprodigy]

Okay so i just got linux suse 10.1 this morning, and after years of using windows xp i wanted to give it a try.

The issue i'm having is this. I have 1 sata drive with three partitions all using the ntfs format. Okay can i install a dual boot using grub i heard that you install windows first so i thought it was possible.

Now when it gets to the partiton part it gives me a whole list of options. One wants to shrink my C drive the others say swap etc... what route am i supposed to go here. Any help is really appericated.

[iamme]

i would shrink the windows partition if need be just my 2 cents though.

[Selfprodigy]

Will this delete the files i have on there? Because my partition size is 44 gigs, and it wants to shrink it 16.7 gigs. The reason it's so large is because i have a lot of games installed.

[devils casper]

resize will not delete any file. defrag the drive before resizing it.






casper

[Selfprodigy]

Okay thanks. If i resize the partition will this take care of the other partitions, i had heard that linux needs 3 partitions? This is the first time i've installed linux and, i'm trying my best not to mess up my windows install.

[devils casper]

How many partition do you have right now?





casper

[Selfprodigy]

I have a 250 gig sata drive broken down into 3 ntfs partitons and they all currently have data on them. I do have an ide 80 gig spare i could throw in their but if it was possible to keep it all one drive i was trying to go that route.

[techieMoe]

Okay thanks. If i resize the partition will this take care of the other partitions, i had heard that linux needs 3 partitions? This is the first time i've installed linux and, i'm trying my best not to mess up my windows install.

Don't worry about making the Linux partitions yourself. Just resize your NTFS partition and leave the rest as empty space. The SuSE installer will take care of the rest.

For general information, Linux usually only needs a minimum of 2 partitions: root and swap. Some distributions like to divide up root into 2 more (root and /home), but it's not strictly necessary for Linux's operation.

[Selfprodigy]

Okay just so i'm clear i should select the option to shrink my c drive down to what is left of my empty space

[devils casper]

three partitions.... okk..
dont resize C: drive. install SuSe in Last Drive...
back up its data and delete it using windows Disk Management Tool. dont format deleted space and install SuSe on it. during installation, Select 'Unpartitioned/Free space'.





casper