Totally new to Linux

[akshay_]

Hi guys,
Like the subject line says I am totally new to linux. I want to install linux on my external hard drive so that I can boot up my laptop anytime on linux anytime. The file system on it is FAT 32. My laptop is running on Windows Vista with the file system of NTFS. Ok so my real question is, can I install linux on my external hard drive without losing the data that I already have on it. I have download the linux file from ubuntu website and burned it to a CD. How do I go about partitioning the hard drive if needed? Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Akshay

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

The installer should give you the option to partition and format your drive(s). Just don't allow the installer to format any partitions that you want to keep.

You might find it easier to use a partitioning utility like the Parted Magic LiveCD (it's a free download) to do your partitioning chores, then you can direct the Linux installer to use the newly created partitions for the new system. You might have to move, expand, or shrink some of your current partitions, depending on the desired outcome.

[akshay_]

Hi ozar,
Thanks for the reply. Like you said, I am downloading the live CD for parted magic. after downloading the iso I am going to burn it on a CD. So this program will let me keep the data on my external hard drive and let me partition the hard drive as well...?? The total capacity of hard drive it 250 gb and I have 136 gb already used. I would like to partition like 30-40 gb for linux.
If I am on the right track, after I am done partitioning the hard drive, then i can use the live CD for linux and direct it to install on the partitioned external hard drive? Anything else I should be concerned about?

[akshay_]

Also one more question I have is, how many partition is needed to install linux and how much space should be allocated in each partition?

[oz]

The total capacity of hard drive it 250 gb and I have 136 gb already used. I would like to partition like 30-40 gb for linux.

That's plenty for Linux.

You must have at least a root partition.
You might want to make a SWAP partition unless you have lots of RAM.
You might want to create a home partition.

I usually make mine something like the following:

/ (about 10 to 20 GB, ext3)
swap (about 2 GB, swap)
/home (about 10 to 20 GB, ext3)

[D-cat]

External Installation Notice:

Installing Linux to an external drive may make your system not easily bootable when that drive is not plugged in, depending on where GRUB gets installed and what the BIOS determines is the drive order when the install disc boots. You may or may not run into this problem, but be aware of it. If you do, you can use your PartedMagic CD to boot into Windows (use SuperGrubDisk2) and probably your Linux install too. We can work the problem from there.

Another possible solution might be to make a small (100 MB) Linux partition on your laptop's internal hard drive and assign it to /boot. That will at least assure that wherever GRUB gets installed, it'll be able to find its configuration at boot.

I'm just throwing ideas with a caution. We'll cross the bridge only if we need to.