Hi, this is coming in pretty late (as i was on vacation)... but Thanks Riley,David and Jay! I managed to get the job done...!
----- Original Message ----- From: Riley Williams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Monday, July 29, 2002 3:20 am Subject: Re: Partitioning problem > Hi Anshu. > > > unfortunately i dont think WinXP recognises FAT32 system. it > requires> NTFS and i can't create NTFS type partition using dos's > fdisk! > All I know is, it installed as an UPGRADE to my Win98SE system > that was > installed in a FAT32 partition, so the installer at least understands > FAT32 partitions, and that's all that matters. If it needs NTFS > partitions then it will create them itself. > > Also, I specifically stated to use Linux fdisk because dos's fdisk > can'tcreate ext2 partitions for Linux and you need to create them > BEFORE you > install WinXP in my experience. I know from experience that Linux > fdiskis capable of creating ANY type of partition, although it > can't always > format them. However, in my experience, it's best to let each OS > formatits own partitions, so that isn't a limitation. > > Best wishes from Riley. > > ========================================================================= > > >>>>> btw I used Partition Magic from WinXP to partition the disc > as I > >>>>> dont know how to work around using fdisk in Linux. > >> > >> In the process, you probably caused this problem, and my advice > >> would be to scrap PartitionMagic and redo your system completely. > >> Here's the procedure I use to set up a system to dual-boot WIndows > >> (any version) and Linux: > >> > >> 1. Use the Linux fdisk to create the partitioning scheme I want. > >> In my experience, NONE of the Windows-based partitioning > >> software can correctly create partitions for Linux, and this > >> includes PartitionMagic. > >> > >> This is the partition layout I generally use: > >> > >> Partition Type Cylinders Notes > >> > >> /dev/hda1 Swap 254 Anti-virus measure > >> /dev/hda2 ext2 2 Mounted as /boot under Linux > >> /dev/hda3 FAT32 50% C: under Windows > >> /dev/hda4 ext2 Rest Mounted as / under Linux > >> > >> The allocation of /dev/hda1 as the swap partition is because of > >> the number of Windows viruses that overwrite the first so many > >> Megabytes of the primary hard drive. Since there is nothing of > >> importance in a Linux swap partition when Windows is running, > >> this measure prevents those viruses from overwriting anything > >> other than the partition table, and that is relatively easy to > >> recreate. > >> > >> 2. Install one's favourite dialect of Windows into /dev/hda3 that > >> was reserved for it in the above partition table. This writes > >> the correct MBR record out, and marks /dev/hda3 as the bootable > >> partition. > >> > >> 3. Install one's favourite Linux distribution specifying the mount > >> points as listed above, and placing the boot loader in the boot > >> record of /dev/hda2 and NOT in the MBR. > >> > >> 4. Use fdisk to set /dev/hda2 as the bootable partition. Either the > >> Linux or Windows fdisk can be used for this without problems. > >> > >> Every distribution of Linux I've met auto-detects that Windows is > >> installed and automatically sets up the boot loader correctly. > >> > >> Incidentally, the reason for putting the Linux boot loader in the > >> boot sector of the /boot mount is because Windows has a habit of > >> overwritingthe MBR with its own boot loader, although it respects > >> the boot marker when doing so. > >> > >>> Thanks for the response, but the problem is that with the > partition>>> shown below i am never able to boot using linux. so i > cant edit the > >>> lilo.conf. or shud i change partition 1 (/dev/hda1) to type ext2 > >>> from current vfat. coz that was the only way i cud boot into > linux?>> > >> Before you do anything, you need to decide precicely what each > >> partitioncontains. The partition layout shown, taken together with > >> your comments, idnicates that the /boot mount point is probably > >> /dev/hda1 rather than the /dev/hda6 indicated, and this is probably > >> PartitionMagic's work. > >> > >>>>> I want to have both WinXP and Linux (RHL7.3) on my system > but > >>>>> am having trouble with the partitions. My partition table (i > >>>>> dunno whether thats the correct term) looks like this (as shown > >>>>> by linux installer ) - > >>>>> > >>>>> Start End Size(MB) Type Mount point > >>>>> /dev/hda > >>>>> Free 1 1 8 Free > >>>>> /dev/hda1 2 7 47 vfat > >>>>> /dev/hda2 8 708 5499 NTFS > >>>>> /dev/hda3 709 2432 13523 Extended > >>>>> /dev/hda5 709 1413 5530 NTFS > >>>>> /dev/hda6 1414 1419 47 ext2 /boot > >>>>> /dev/hda7 1420 1453 267 swap > >>>>> /dev/hda8 1454 2432 7697 ext2 / > >>>>> > >>>>> the error message i get is -> Boot partition may not meet > booting>>>>> constraints for your architecture. Creation of boot > disk is > >>>>> highly encouraged. > >>>> > >>>> Thats not an error message but a warning from the install > process, > >>>> as you see lilo or grub was installed. > >>>> > >>>>> The options I get is "modify partition" and "add anyway". If I > >>>>> proceed with 'add anyway' option installation is succesful > but I > >>>>> dont get the option of selecting the OS for booting the PC > and > >>>>> the PC boots using WinXP. I tried changing the /dev/hda1 > partition>>>>> to ext2 ,mount pt /boot. The installation was > succesful and so > >>>>> was the boot, but then the option of starting with WinXP > >>>>> dissapeared. I could only boot with Linux Can anyone help me > out? > - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-newbie" in the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.linux-learn.org/faqs
