Linux/Windows partition

I'm running WinXPpro on an 80gig drive (only one drive on my machine). I want to install Linux on it also. So, the question is....Would it be better to install another HD and run it off of there, or could I partition the current drive and run it off a single drive? I'm using a P4 i845 board so I'm sure that it's capable of running 2 HD's.

Question 2....To partition a single drive, would this require the use of something like Partition Magic? I know that Windows has a partition program but it stinks, how good is Linux's (Mandrake or Red Hat) partition app?

Any advice would be great. Thank you.

partition it. 80 gigs is a lot for one operating system. don't worry, if you give too much to windows, you can still access it from linux.

i've never used partition magic. i've used windows fdisk and it does stink for non-linux partitions. i used the linux one. it does the job (although i don't know if it can partition, keeping the data on the drive.)

Thanks for the suggestion, that's just it, I've got a lot of stuff on there and it is my lazy disposition to avoid having to back up, clear it, then reinstall everything....Would you (or anyone) have any suggestions as to which version of Linux to install? I'm looking at Red Hat (standard) and Mandrake....any pros or cons?
Thank you again...

I used PartitionMagic the first time I repartitioned (worked fine). Then I got a new drive and started from scratch that way. If you've got an extra drive I'd say install them seperately (less hassle). If you're going to use the single drive be careful because if you want to be able to boot the OS without a disk, the boot information (a small partition is all that's needed) needs to be below the 1024 cylinder mark. On my 30G drive it was about 6G if I remember. So you'll need to make a few partitions.
I use Redhat 7.2 right now (and I like it) but I'm trying to set up FreeBSD to play with for a while (I'm thinking of converting). If you just want to get your feet wet with Linux, Redhat has a simple install package that's just about as easy as the Windows OS install (if you've ever done that). I'd use the Grub boot loader and put it in your MBR, then when the computer starts you'll get a nice screen that lets you choose which OS you want to run. Otherwise, if you just want to play with Linux without destroying your drive, you can use Redhat to install as couple of files using empty harddrive space and then boot to it from a floppy disk. Then if you don't like it you just delete the files and no more Linux. And you never had to mess with repartitioning.

Great, thanks for the info. I'll probably want to keep Linux on there and run it full time, checking the different partition programs out there and given my tendency towards paranoia, I'll probably go that route (buy a partition program, etc;). Now checking the prices and the prices of a new HD, why not just go to a 2 HD system? I'm sure all of the women at work will think I'm a better man for it, they love a man with a huge... storage capacity.

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Originally posted by Fyodorox
Great, thanks for the info. I'll probably want to keep Linux on there and run it full time, checking the different partition programs out there and given my tendency towards paranoia, I'll probably go that route (buy a partition program, etc;). Now checking the prices and the prices of a new HD, why not just go to a 2 HD system? I'm sure all of the women at work will think I'm a better man for it, they love a man with a huge... storage capacity.

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ack! you have way too much $$$ fdisk or cfdisk is better than any of that bs that you have to pay for... as for which distro to run for nebies try madrake or redhat... 2hd's is useless you dont need that much free space...

/me wishes he was as rich as this dude...

I want to be a professional programmer when I'm older. Should I have knowledge with Linux? Does it matter?

Yes.

it wouldn't hurt.

Trust me, I'm not that rich...can barely afford to pay attention....

>>the boot information (a small partition is all that's needed) needs to be below the 1024 cylinder mark. On my 30G drive it was about 6G if I remember. So you'll need to make a few partitions.

Not for newer versions of lilo (I forgot the crutial version number). I have it partitioned around the 10 gig mark and slackware loads fine.

I thought it was dependent on the BIOS. But if it's possible now that's great (I just did a check and I guess GRUB can do it too if you've got the right BIOS).
Either way, I still like the idea of installing on a separate drive but with 80G (which I think is overkill for most people) I see no problem splitting it in half or something.
Just make sure to make a boot disk as well in case anything goes wrong. A lesson I learned the hard way.