Subj : Re: installing Linux RH 9.0 as the 3rd OS
To   : comp.os.linux
From : Innocenti Maresin
Date : Sat Oct 02 2004 12:51 am

Tsun Szu wrote:

> Presently my P3-500mhz laptop is installed with win98se and winxp. It has a
> 40gb hard drive. Win98se is installed in primary partition (FAT32) c: and
> winXP in the secondary partition (FAT32), logical drive d:
>
> c: has about 17gb, d: about 8gb and e: (also FAT32) about 9gb free space.
>
> If I start RH 9.0 installation from the CD what will happen? Do I have to
> delete logical drive e: first before I start the installation.........since
> Linux cannot read FAT32?

Why do you think Linux can't read FAT32? :)
It can read it and it can write to it.
But there is no Linux on FAT32, even on any FAT
because FAT lacks some critical UNIX features (file's owner, permissions...).
There is (or was :)) UMSDOS file system though,
which emulate a normal UNIX fs on top of FAT,
allowing Linux to share its root partition with Windows or DOS.
But it's strongly recommended to have a native Linux partition for Linux
and also a swap _partition_ (not just file).
So, you _should_ delete one of your FAT partitions
to avoid unstable and vulnerable Linux setup.
UMSDOS is known (but not tested by me personally) as very unreliable :(


> What is the equivalent drive representation for c: d: e: in Linux.

Is this a question or a statement?


> And after I have finished installing RH 9.0 will there be a
> choice menu appearing on restart?

You should set up a loader for Linux, either LILO or GRUB.
You even may haven't any loader for Linux on your HDD
and boot Linux from a boot 5" disk.

This means, _you_ must think about the loader.
You are not in M$ world now, thus your actions are limited only by your capabilities.
It's possible to make LILO(GRUB) to chain-boot your NTLDR
or versa, boot a LILO(GRUB) as one of boot.ini's item.
No _technical_ problems are there, sure.
Read the documentation or search the Web.



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