As soon as I can get my DVDRW installed, if ever, I will be saving all my user data to DVD and upgrading from Ubuntu 5.04 to 6.10. There will be no Windoze on this computer and I would like some ideas about the best way to partition (I am still a newbie.)
I understand that Linux needs to have a boot partition (which needs to be the first partition and will hold the OS) and a swap partition as a minimum. I will have a 3rd for /home (to receive the contents of the DVD and to facilitat future upgrades) plus probably a modest FAT32 partition for easy exchange of data from Windoze computers (though I am not sure if I really need this.)
First question is should I use Ubuntu 6.10 as my partitioning tool, or gparted, or something else, and why? Am I able to ‘name’ the partitions (as above) during the partition process? I have had very limited experience with partitioning.
As I recall, during the partitioning process, one has to select between primary and extended. If I have no more than four partitions, is it a good idea for the 4th to be extended (for further future re-partitioning purposes)? Is the swap partition a primary partition or does it have it’s own character separate from primary/extended?
Then are any other partions likely to be useful and if so, what and why? (This computer has a 40 GB hdd and is only used for word processing, spreadsheets, email, and browsing.)
Finally, what is the best order for the various partitions? Left to my own devices, and subject to replies to the previous questions, it prob will be boot, swap, home, fat32. I believe that it is mandatory for the boot partition to be the first one?
Whew! That’s lots of questions and I will be grateful for your guidance.