partitioning

[JuDgE_DrEaD]

ive been wanting to install linux on my system on a second hd. Have everything except a partition on the second hd and am not sure how to make one? any help is appreciated :)

PS Im trying to install Caldera OpenLinux

[mcrites]

Make one for:
/home
/var/log
/usr/local
/data
and of course
/.

You may or may not want to use a /data partition, its up to you, but everything else would be crucial to having if something major happened to the other partition. /usr/local is good for if you compile a lot of software and want to move it to another distro. /var/log is good to have so you will keep log files if something bad happens, these logs might give you a clue to what happened. And definitely /home, esp if you keep your data there, but its nice to keep your custom configured settings around.

[ken257]

With Caldera, Mandrake and SuSE also you do not have to go crazy making all kinds of partitions. One for SWAP and one for / or root os all you will need. Before you start the install use fdisk and wipe all the existing partitions off of the second drive. During the install you will be able to do the partitioning needed for linux. If I remember Caldera has an option to use the whole drive so it will take care of the partitioning for you.

[minoukat]

Or if you have some data on that second HD that you want to keep, you could defrag the drive, then use the program FIPS to reduce the first partition, then put linux on the second partition. What I would suggest though, is use FIPS, make a reduce the first partition A LITTLE (or the amount needed or wanted for Linux), create a second partition for Windows to keep your existing data, format that second partition, copy the data that you want to keep from the first partition to the second, then install Linux on the first partition. (if you chose the second option, after the data is copied to the second partition, delete [fdisk] the first partition, start the Linux install, then create a Linux partition there)

Just my idea

[JuDgE_DrEaD]

thankx for the responses guys :) im off to install Caldera

[ken257]

:D Let us know how you make out!

[David]

Caldera aint exactly the best. Go for Red Ha, SuSE or Mandrake.

You only need a swap partition about 128-256mb and the rest you can use for /

Choose ReiserFS if its available