Help Please With Partitioning !!

[Ca[z]Lo]

hey guys , first time i install A distribution of Linux , I only used the knobix cd-live one , I got SuSe 10.2 , downloaded from a torrent 5 cds , when i start installing , going through the Partitioning thing , i get so confuse .

I got 4 partitions , I've prepared the D for SuSe (25GB) , I want to install SUSE on D , while keep my XP Media center windows in C & My music/games/programs without any formmating .

JUST WANT TO INSTALL SUSE ON D WITH NO OTHER CHANGES !!! .

Because when i go NEXT after that step , a pop up message appear and says that my entire partitions is going to be formatted ( erasing .... etc ) and iam so scare cuz i have so important data/games/programs on my other partitions .

Just gimme the correct steps to install it on D without any format or erase to any of my other partitions , THNX .

[gogalthorp]

You need to remove the partition first. The area must be free.

Then Suse will normally create 3 partitions swap,root,home in that area.

[monday90]

It is a little complicated. You have partitioned your disk using Windows the D: partition could be any of those you have prepared. Your best bet is to boot windows and remove all the partitions you have created. Then boot Suse and let it automatically partition your free space. I personally find it handy to create a 10GB partition (enough to store a dual layer dvd image) formatted with FAT32 to exchange data between Linux and Windows.
Hope this helps.

[surya.theSun]

Hi,

Try this:
1. Boot with your Knoppix live CD and see what partition your D: drive on Windows is.
For example I have it on /dev/sda5. It could be different for you.
You can use the "fdisk -l" command to see this. Or use qtparted

2. Now restart your computer and insert the SuSE DVD that you have. When you get to partitioning select Manual Partition method. You should see the D: drive partition there(say /dev/sda5)
Delete only that partition (assuming you have no important data on D: drive) and create a swap partition(approximately double the size of your RAM). The rest of space you can create a ReiserFS(SuSE default file system) partition and select mount point as / (root)
Optionally you can create /home for your personal files

This should not disturb your other partitions (C or E)

Get back if you are not able to follow

[Ca[z]Lo]

hi again ,

I managed to know my D drive , it's dev/sda6 , then i booted the installtion , i choosed that drive and in the Partitioning area it changed to .

*Delete Windows Partition dev/sda6
*Create swap , root , etc

and stuff like that , but when i go next the message "If u continue Partitions is going to be formmated ( erasing , all data will be lost " O_O .

I just want it to format the dev/sda6 NOT ALL PARTITIONS !! .

[devils casper]

installer will format selected partitions only.

i would suggest you to delete D: drive through Disk Management Tool of Windows. leave it as unpartitioned/free space and dont create partitions manually.
select 'unpartitioned/free' space in Partition Section during Installation. installer will create and format partitions for you.






Casper

[Ca[z]Lo]

guys i did somthing .

i opened my partition magic 8.0 and formmated the D as Linux ext3 then i resized it and took 1098.2 MB from it , and created it as Linux Swap , Then APPLIED and restarted my pc , The Drive D isn't appearing , that means it's formmated to linux system !!

So what should be the next step now ? , i think i have the D prepared for installition , right ?

[the bassinvader]

your next step should be to start listening to the advice you're getting and do what
Devils_Casper has told you!!!

[gogalthorp]

guys i did somthing .

i opened my partition magic 8.0 and formmated the D as Linux ext3 then i resized it and took 1098.2 MB from it , and created it as Linux Swap , Then APPLIED and restarted my pc , The Drive D isn't appearing , that means it's formmated to linux system !!

So what should be the next step now ? , i think i have the D prepared for installition , right ?

NO please follow the instruction three people have given you. do not format leave what once wass the D: drive partition empty ie no format!!!!!!!

You need at least three partitions for Linux. one is a swap and is not formated like the others allow the installer to create the partitions!!!!!

[Ca[z]Lo]

Guys u need to understand it's my first INSTALLITION , I know it's so dumb to ask sucj a questions , but my entire data on my HD , which means i have to be extra careful .

Ok got the D deleted , I deleted the things i done in post 7 , and now the partition D is UNALLOCATED .

I went to installition process , got these settings under the Prtitioning thing :

-Create Swap Partition /dev/sda7 (1.4 GB)
-Create Root partition /dev/sda8 (9.7 GB) with ext3
-Create Partition /dev/sda9 (14.1 GB) for /Home with ext3
-Set Mount point of /dev/sda1 to windows/C
-Set Mount point of /dev/sda5 to windows/D
-Set Mount point of /dev/sda6 to windows/E

I think now he is considering the deleted partition as F , So should i press Accept Now ? because when i did The popup message " If you continue now partitions on your HD will be formmated " !!! , Or does he means with " PARTITIONS " the 3 partitions ? (swap/root/home) and not my C/D/E ????