[NTLUG:Discuss] kernel 2.6 -- install -- trashing Win partitions

[Preston Hagar]

While it is entirely possible for you to wipe out your existing
partions, there is nothing with installing Linux or the 2.6 kernels
that will do so without option.  I have a laptop on which I first
installed WinXP then resized the partions with Partition Magic, and
then installed Linux.   If you don't have Partition magic, I would
highly recommed the $50 or so to get it.  It makes resizing your
partions easy and you are much less likely to lose data.  You probably
could even find a little bit older version on eBay.

Since you said you have one of the Novell kits, I would assume you are
planning to install SuSE using YAST.  It is my experience that more
recent versions of YAST (especially since SuSE 9.0) do a really good
job of detecting Windows partitions and not writing over them.  Just
be sure to double check the hard drive partitioning/setup at the
configuration screen before you tell it to start installing.

To sum up, I would backup any and all highly vitial files (just in
case, plus you never know you might have an unrelated hard drive
failure), get a copy of Partition Magic and use it to resize your
Windows partitions (you can just leave the new partitions unformatted
and format them during your distro install) and then install SuSE
double checking the hard drive partition configuration in yast before
continuing.  I hope you try it and good luck.  Keep posting if you
have questions along the way.

Preston

On Sun, 18 Jul 2004 10:09:21 -0500, Jack Snodgrass
<jack at jacksnodgrass.com> wrote:
> I have a laptop with dual boot. I use grub as my boot loader.
> I started with:
> GRUB
>    linux - redhat8 - ext2
>    win2000 - C: - fat32
> 
> I re-installed Fedora FC2 and replaced/wiped out the RH8
> install. I formated the existing drives, but did not repartition.
> 
> I after the FC2 install, I how have:
> GRUB
>    linux - FC2 - ext3
>    win2000 - C: - fat32
> 
> win2k is still fine. Grub boots it just like it did before.
> 
> I think that my install was ok, because I already had my drive
> setup and didn't change the partition table at all. I used the
> same linux drives for FC2 as RH8.
> 
> So... if your already up and running and just want to upgrade/re-install
> with existing drives, I think your ok... if you want to do a new install
> or change your partition table... you may hose something up.
> 
> This link is supposed to help un-hose... but I didn't need it...
> http://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-devel-list/2004-May/msg00908.html
> 
> 
> jack
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Sun, 2004-07-18 at 09:53 -0600, pacificview505 at juno.com wrote:
> > I will admit that after researching this on Net, I've not done so for
> > about the last month.  I got one of the Novell install kits, and I'm
> > toying with the idea again of installing Linux.  Since a HDD switch-out 3
> > months ago, I have no Linux on.
> >
> > Has anyone had any experience with the recent deal, IIRC coming from 2.6
> > kernel, in which an install re-writes, or somesuch, the partition tables
> > sometimes.  Result:  unbootable into Windoze in a dual-boot situation.
> >
> > I don't have the URL right now, but I've seen articles to effect of
> > re-running some Linux command to rewrite the partition table, or some
> > file it modifies.  Is it really as simple as that?
> >
> > This is_literally_keeping_me_from Linux now, after having run Linux for 6
> > years.  The general tenor of the comments to one or two posts I've made,
> > on non-NTLUG sites, was kind of snotty stuff to the effect of "what do
> > you want to run Windoze for, anyway".  I am sympathetic to the thought,
> > but I just cannot afford to lose_all_of_my_data_which is on FAT 32
> > partitions.  Even with backups on other media, there would still be lost
> > time rebuilding systems, etc.
> >
> > Does anyone know if it only affects HDDs > 8.4, or 10, or somesuch, Gigs?
> >  Thanks.
> > --
> >   Douglas D. Darnold  Principal/ Attorney
> >   LAW OFFICES OF DOUGLAS D. DARNOLD   pacificview505(at)juno(.)com
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> >
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> 
> 
> 
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