tlug: re: partition

[tjhaslam <tjhaslam@example.com>]

Eltigani A. Musa wrote:

EAM> I'm a new user running S.u.S.E Linux 5.3, I want to 
EAM> create fdisk ( fips/5C or fips15C ), actually I'm not 
EAM> sure about the exact parameter or name for the fdisk 
EAM> used for partitioning the Hard Drives without affecting
EAM> the  existing data ? 
EAM> To make it easy for me to run other O.S. with Linux. 
 
Ouch.  I`m a little unclear on your goal.  (A very minor point: FIPS and
Fdisk are two different programs).   But as far as I know, having installed
Linux on all of four machines (two that also run Windows):

(a)  If you have your drive already partioned, and there is no free space
left, you will have to delete a partion or two to make some space.  That
will destory any data in those partitions--I`m not sure how to work around
that, expect by backing up the data first.   (Are the partitions that
you`re talking about Linux-native?).  

(b)  If you`re not already `running` Linux (although you said you are),
it`s generally considered easier and better to install the other OS first,
particularly if that OS is Dos or Windows.  (For example, sometimes, other
OS`s do NOT recognize Linux`s file system.  If Linux is installed on the
drive first, then the new OS might find the drive unreadable.  Fortunately,
Linx does NOT have this problem in regard to other OSs). If the other OS is
already installed, your job can be even easier.   Otherwise, if you install
the other OS after Linux, it will probably rewrite your drive`s MBR (master
boot record), and Linux then won`t be able to boot.  (Unless you`re already
using a program like System Commander, but then . . . ).

If it were (b), you would want to defragement your hard drive first.  Then
find out how much space your programs and data are taking.  Let`s say the
total is 400 megs.  Then after leaving yourself a little extra room--say,
40 megs more, you would use FIPS to partition your disk at the 440 meg
mark--all your data and programs safely in the first partition.  The rest
of the disk, then, you could format by Fdisk.  And then install the new
OS--which is what, by the way?--on the new partition(s).

**Could you please reply with more information?**  
For example,  the name of the second OS you want to install.  Size of the
disk.  Type of machine we`re talking about.   Names of any utilities or
programs that you have that you`re pretty sure of.  

Also, the pht site does have some good info on FIPS at

http://www.pht.com/support/tl20docs.html


Best, and please respond with more info,

Tom H,





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