"M. Phillips" wrote: >I'm a newby to the whole Linux/GNU/Debian system, being a long-time MS >devotee, and although I am very close to being sold on getting it, I have a >couple of questions to clear up first. > >1: In the FAQ, section 3.4 ><http://www.us.debian.org/doc/FAQ/debian-faq-3.html#ss3.4> states that one >should partition a 1.6 GB hard disk with the following partitions: >" >30 MBytes for the root directory (/) >450 MBytes for /usr >50 MBytes for swap space >1000 MBytes for home directories (some of this could be used for >/usr/local/) >0 MBytes for /tmp; make /tmp a symbolic link to /var/tmp >40 MBytes for /var " > >Pardon my ignorance, or mayhaps it's the ambiguity of the whole section, >but does this mean I need five separate partitions on the single disk, or >(more likely, methinks) does it mean that the single partition consists of >1570 MBytes? Any clarification would be most appreciated. > This is indeed 5 partitions. The swap partition is used as a runtime memory extension; the other partitions separate out parts of the directory tree to limit the extent of damage in case of any disaster. If one filesystem gets corrupted, the others should still be OK. > > >Also, seeing as how I _am_ new to the idea, I would very much like to >perform a dual boot between Win95/MS-DOS, and Debian/GNU Linux operating >systems. Seems like somewhere in the dark recesses of the PC World >archives there's a miniscule article about dual-booting between 2 or more >OSes, but I've since lost/given away the issue, and I'd like to hear it >from a user more experienced than myself in the area.
When you install Debian, you can get dual booting by using LILO. This is my config file (/etc/lilo.conf): boot=/dev/hda3 root=/dev/hda3 compact install=/boot/boot.b map=/boot/map vga=normal delay=50 # Linux - 2.0.32 image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.0.32 label=linux append="mem=96m aic7xxx=ultra" read-only # Linux - 2.0.33 image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.0.33 label=linux2033 append="mem=96m aic7xxx=ultra" read-only # Win 95 other=/dev/hda1 label=w95 This particular configuration allows me to boot Linux with either of two kernel versions; it also allows for Windows95. Important! 1 After changing /etc/lilo.conf, and especially after changing the kernel, you must run /sbin/lilo to update the boot map. 2 Install any Microsoft product first; Microsoft has no respect for the presence of any other OS and is liable to overwrite the boot sector. 3 Make sure you have a rescue floppy or a bootable CD. If you don't want to risk using LILO you can boot Linux from inside DOS with LOADLIN.EXE. -- Oliver Elphick [EMAIL PROTECTED] Isle of Wight http://www.lfix.co.uk/oliver PGP key from public servers; key ID 32B8FAA1 ======================================== "Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." Ephesians 6:2,3 -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]