HELP - How do I make sure MEPIS won't erase Xp partitions ???

terii, welcome to Mepis.

I would like to give you a little help so that you don't mess things up. What would help us is to give us more information on your computer system.

Using the Live CD, boot up your computer. Open a Konsole (press alt+f2 to bring up the Run command). Enter "konsole" (without the quotes). Enter the following commands (the "$" is a prompt; don't enter it):

$ cat /etc/fstab  # this will show your current partitions
$ mount           # this will show what is currently mounted

Can you tell us a bit about your hardware (brand, model, amount of RAM, size of hard drive(s))?

With that info, we can give you some ideas on how to lay things out

Jon

SimplyMEPIS Value CD: $17.95
Amount saved not buying Windows Vista Ultimate: $399
Experience gained learning Mepis and helping others: Priceless

Meanwhile I perform your instructions here is my config.
(Retreived with MSI WMIinfo - UNDER WIN XP PRO Fr)

Manufacturer : http://www.abit.com.tw/
Product Name : KV8-MAX3 (VIA K8T800-8237)
Version : 1.x

Name : Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Manufacturer : Phoenix Technologies, LTD
Version : ABITK8 - 42302e31
SerialNumber :
ReleaseDate : 08 / 22 / 2005
Target Operating System : Unknown
Language : n|US|iso8859-1
Status : OK

Name : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3200+
Description: x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 8
Manufacturer : AuthenticAMD
Version : Modèle 4, niveau 8
DataWidth : 32 Bits
Socket Designation : Socket 754
Type : Central Processor
CPU Id : 078BFBFF00000F48
CPU Family : Unknown
CPU Stepping : 8
Load Percentage : 22 %
Max ClockSpeed : 2043 MHz
Current ClockSpeed : 2043 MHz
Voltage : 1.5 V
External Clock : 204 MHz
Upgrade Method : undefined
L2 Cache Size : 1024 Kb
Display Availability : Running/Full Power
PowerManagement Supported : false
Status : OK

Name : \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE0
Description: Lecteur de disque
Model : Maxtor 6 Y160M0 SCSI Disk Device
Manufacturer : (Lecteurs de disque standard)
Number of Partitions : 8
Interface Type : SCSI
TotalHeads : 255
TotalCylinders : 19929
TotalTracks : 5081895
TotalSectors : 320159385
Tracks Per Cylinder : 255
Sectors Per Track : 63
Bytes Per Sector : 512 Bytes
Total Space : 156327 MB
Status : OK

(I'll send the reply of retreive made under Mepis OS)

Name : A:
Description: Lecteur de disquettes 3 ½ pouces
Disk Style : Removable Disk

Name : C:
Description: Disque fixe local
Disk Style : Local Disk
File System : NTFS
Total Space : 16316 MB
Free Space : 10595 MB
Used Space : 5721 MB
Used Percentage : 35 %
Serial Number : 58262BF4

Name : D:
Description: Disque fixe local
Disk Style : Local Disk
File System : NTFS
Total Space : 12001 MB
Free Space : 384 MB
Used Space : 11617 MB
Used Percentage : 96 %
Serial Number : 8C0BD8BD

Name : E:
Description: Disque fixe local
Disk Style : Local Disk
File System : FAT32
Total Space : 12993 MB
Free Space : 1398 MB
Used Space : 11595 MB
Used Percentage : 89 %
Serial Number : 64894BC8

Name : F:
Description: Disque fixe local
Disk Style : Local Disk
File System : NTFS
Total Space : 99998 MB
Free Space : 13509 MB
Used Space : 86489 MB
Used Percentage : 86 %
Serial Number : 54C02257

MSI info Doesn't list the Linux Partition but thewr is one more of aprx 14MB reserved for Mepis

Name : H:
Description: Disque CD-ROM
Disk Style : Compact Disc

Name : Mémoire physique
Memory Capacity : 512MB
Memory BankLabel : Bank0/1
Memory DeviceLocator : A0
Memory Type : Unknown

Name : NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
Display Availability : Running/Full Power
Video Mode : 1152 x 864 x 4294967296 couleurs
Adapter DAC Type : Integrated RAMDAC
Current Horizontal Resolution : 1152 Pixels
Current Vertical Resolution : 864 Pixels
Current Number Of Colors : 4294967296
Adapter RAM : 128 MB
Current Refresh Rate : 60 Hertz
Video Processor : GeForce FX 5200
Inf Filename : oem9.inf
Driver Version : 6.14.10.4523
Monochrome : false
Installed Display Drivers : nv4_disp.dll
Status : OK

Name : LG L1718S
Monitor Manufacturer : LG
Monitor Type : LG L1718S
Display Availability : Running/Full Power
Screen Height : 864 Pixels
Screen Width : 1152 Pixels
Status : OK

Name : 3Com Gigabit NIC
Manufacturer : 3Com
Product Name : 3Com Gigabit NIC
Display Availability : Running/Full Power
MAC Address : XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Adapter Type : Ethernet 802.3
PowerManagement Supported : false

Name : Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller
Manufacturer : Realtek
Product Name : Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller
PowerManagement Supported : false
Status : OK

Here you go !

root@1[root]# cat /etc/fstab
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs noauto 0 0
/dev/pts /dev/pts devpts mode=0622 0 0
# Dynamic entries below, identified by 'users' option
/dev/sda2 /mnt/sda2 ntfs noauto,users,exec,ro,umask=0222 0 0
/dev/sda3 /mnt/sda3 ntfs noauto,users,exec,ro,umask=0222 0 0
/dev/sda5 /mnt/sda5 ntfs noauto,users,exec,ro,umask=0222 0 0
/dev/sda6 /mnt/sda6 vfat,ext3,ext2,reiserfs noauto,users,exec 0 0
/dev/sda7 /mnt/sda7 ext3 noauto,users,exec 0 0
/dev/sda8 swap swap sw,pri=1 0 0
/dev/sda9 /mnt/sda9 ext3 noauto,users,exec 0 0
/dev/sda10 /mnt/sda10 ext3 noauto,users,exec 0 0
/dev/cdrom /media/cdrom iso9660,udf noauto,users,exec,ro 0 0
/dev/fd0 /media/floppy vfat,ext2 noauto,users,exec,rw 0 0
root@1[root]#

root@1[root]# mount
proc on /proc type proc (rw)
/sys on /sys type sysfs (rw)
varrun on /ramdisk/var/run type tmpfs (rw)
varlock on /ramdisk/var/lock type tmpfs (rw)
procbususb on /proc/bus/usb type usbfs (rw)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,gid=100,mode=0622)
devshm on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw)
capifs on /dev/capi type capifs (rw,mode=0666)
binfmt_misc on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw)
root@1[root]#

I read in forums that Qparted is not quite secure to run within Linux,
If you have an easy way to make a PEndrive or disket boot, I can go with these, ..just ran out of Cds.

thanks

ABIT KV8 MAX3 AMD64 +3200

Thanks for all of the info on your computer. That always makes it easier

I will have to run to take care of some errands this morning, so I will post additional details later (if no one else does in the meantime). But let me give you some initial "stuff" on your system.

Based on the fstab info and the info from the diagnostics, you have a single hard drive. How familiar are you with the concept of "partitioning", specifically with regards to Linux? I'm guessing, "not much".

Your one drive /dev/sda, has already been partitioned into eight partitions (where's /dev/sda1/?) It looks like you already have partitions set up that you can use for Linux. They are /dev/sda8 for the swap space, /dev/sda9 for "root", and /dev/sda10 possibly for "/home". Is that what you were thinking? How did you get those partitions set up? And how much space did you allocate to them?

Based on your RAM, I would recommend that the swap space be set to at least 512 MB, but if your hard drive is getting "tight" then you would be safe in reducing it. You don't really need two separate partitons for root and home. It is nice for updates and manipulation, but for initial tests, you may be better off combining the space together, so that you only have /dev/sda9. That space needs to be at least 8 GB in size. 4 GB is the absolute minimum in size.

For a partitioning tool you might want to consider downloading a copy of GParted Live CD. Go to DistroWatch to find it:
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=gparted

This is a very useful tool to resized and move partitions.

To get more space, you MUST do defrags in Windows XP before you do anything else. The best way to do it is to boot up into XP in SAFE MODE with no network support. Perform defrags on ALL PARTITIONS and then boot up using the GParted CD. You might be able to squeeze more space out of those partitions.

Oh, I didn't mention it at the top but if possible, back up all of your partitions.

Anyway, is this info helpful? Let me know if you need additional information, and I (or others) will answer.

And if I don't hear from you before the holidays, have a Merry Christmas or any other celebrations that you might choose

Jon

SimplyMEPIS Value CD: $17.95
Amount saved not buying Windows Vista Ultimate: $399
Experience gained learning Mepis and helping others: Priceless

True jon,
...I had forgotten to mentioned from a previous failed install of Mandriva (video card problem) that had left these linux Partitions there...

Yes, I'm pretty familiar with Windows Partioning and Prompt/defrag and some other tools for that... Bootit NG.

I'll be downloading Gparted anyway since it seems an essential ref. in Linux world.

True, I'm not so familiar with Linux partitions too !

Still, I also can re-use the Mandriva 2007 Free Partiotioning tool to set my 14GB Drive space in ways that you mentioned.
It's a very efficient tool letting you choose exactly what/how you want Linux SdaXX, without messing with your existing NTFS partitions...or messing with if you REALLY want to !

I think a total 14GB of space is quite good, at least for a start, with MEPIS.

If /home and /root are similar to C:/windows and D:/datas, I like it that way better.
As for the Swap, I think I'll go for leaving a partition too for that, I once did that under Xp too.

Things that are confusing are those sda4...9 partitions (and sorry they never was an sda1)...just as I said !

As for Backing up, I have nothing at hand... Will see if I can wait then, we are looking for a NAS file server under Linux for our backup needs (any very compatible NAS that you know/ref. ?)

*Just before going further:
1) MEPIS WILL instal a Menu Boot and let me chose between LINUX OR XP for booting, right ?
2) I will be able to access/read/delete/modify NTFS files from within MEPIS too, correct ?
3) MEPIS HAS so tools (third party even) to let me run Windows applications under Mepis, right ?

Thank you very much any way for all your wishes,
...and for the rapid support !

Will keep in touch,
terii

ABIT KV8 MAX3 AMD64 +3200

Hey Terii, you're getting there!

Yes, there are a number of tools to make/modify/destroy partitions.

Yes, you actually had your Windoze system laid out somewhat efficiently by having a C:\WINDOWS (OS) and D:\DATA partitions. I arranged one of my Windoze boxes that way once.

In the Linux world you NEED a swap partition. Not that you will necessarily use swap space a lot (current versions of Linux are very memory efficient), but a swap partition is needed occasionally. Although a good initial test load of Linux is to put everything into a single partition, putting your "data" into "/home" is a very good idea.

Yes, 14 GB is more than enough for learning and playing around with Mepis

Regarding the /boot/grub/menu.lst, I don't have info in front of me to give you good instructions on that. Do a search of this forum or check in the DOCS area of the forum. I know that the info is there, just not in front of my fingers at the moment

Your NTFS partitions are an "interesting" situation. Yes, Linux can mount and READ the partitions. But because of the ridiculous complexities, and undocumented, proprietary format by Microsoft, it is NON-WRITABLE by Linux. There have been recent developments in a tool called ntfs-ng that you can download and use to write to ntfs partitions, but it is not loaded by default. So to start, don't worry too much about this.

There are a number of third-party applications that will allow you to run certain Windose applications; from free emulators to for-pay applications. Once we get you up-and-running, we can get the other tools that you need loaded

Jon

EDIT: Terii, here is an update. Go to this link to see some info on setting up GRUB for the boot:
http://www.mepis.org/node/9203

SimplyMEPIS Value CD: $17.95
Amount saved not buying Windows Vista Ultimate: $399
Experience gained learning Mepis and helping others: Priceless