will linux install delete my c: ?

James,
To answer your question about the Deletion of your C; drive, loading linux will not delete your C: drive unless it is used incorrectly. I have done this, it is real easy to do if you have never set up Linux to dual boot. Linux does use a program called LILO which is taughted as being able to dual boot unlike o's but I havent been able to get it to work properly. The only way I have been successful was to load system commander on the win machine and enable it for the linux system. I also havent been able to load both o's on the same drive either as in your case I would store somehow all my documents that you cant afford to lose then test the different setups. Trust me it is going to be trial and error at first then it will be a snap. If my memory serves me correct \i have mandrake and it came with a 3rd disc with PArtion Commander and Boot Magic on it. If you can use those first before loading Linux it sure beats LILO or Disk Druid. Also if a proxy server is what youwant then I would only load linux on that machine. Will also be simpler. Let me know

IF you are NOT useing winNT or 2k, And D: is an actual drive, then you should be ok. Here is what I found is the best way for dual boot:

#1, Backup, Backup, then backup some more.

Providing D: is a second HDD, boot linux from floppy, and run the CFDISK or the FDISK utility. partion your drive such that you have a 64MB or larger multiple of ( 128 /256 /512 ) partion to use as your swap partion. you may have the rest of the drive for your extended partion if you like, but I would not go much above 600 MB before splitting.

Once that is done, run your setup program.

Now- As far as LILO goes- Install it to the same partion you installed Linux on - at the root of that partion. the boot loader itself will install to the MBR of the first partion of the first drive, and call the info file from the linux partion.

In some cases, it does not work all that well, and you may not even be able to boot to windows. If this is the case, boot to a prompt from your windows boot disk, andrun " fdisk /MBR " at the prompt. This gets you back into windows.

The next step, if you have bootup problems, is to install lilo to floppy disk, and use the floppy to boot Linux. ( This should be a clear choice in the linux setup screens. You should get to a point that it will ask you.

Now, if your d: is actually a second partion of a 1 drive system, then you will definantly need to re partition the whole drive. I suggest the following:

hda1 = 2-4 G win98
hda2 = 2-8 G data share ( for both os's )
hda3 = 2-4 G Linux partion
hda4 = 64MB or larger multiple Swap Partion.

*NOTE: The swap partion size is determined by the amount of memory you have- say you have 8 MB ram, then a 256 MB partion is about perfect.

If you have 64MB ram, then a 64MB partion is all you SHOULD need.

Good Luck!

Good Luck!

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