Using Gentoo as second OS instead of Redhat

kalel · n00b Joined: 06 Nov 2003 Posts: 3

I currently have Windows XP and RedHat installed on a dual boot system. Now that RedHat is no longer being updated, I want to use Gentoo as my second OS.

I need help with the partioning and configuration of the bootloader. This is my current partion setup as seen from fdisk.

kmj0377 · Guru Joined: 26 Sep 2003 Posts: 397

hda2 will be your boot partition.
hda5 will be your root partition.
hda6 will be your swap partition.

kalel · n00b Joined: 06 Nov 2003 Posts: 3

Okay, but what is hda3? Isn't Extended something to do with Linux also?

Pete_Keller · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 5:18 pm Post subject:

kalel,

When they designed the ide drive, they allowed only 4 partitions because noone would ever need more than 4 partitions (this is back in the day of 10MB hard drives, dinasaurs roaming the earth, and Alan Cox not needing to shave). however once drives started getting bigger, they needed more than 4 partitions, so they fudged a way to make more. they turn one partition into an "extended partition" and put other partitions inside of it, it gets around the 4partition limit. All your partitions numbered 5 and up are part of the extended partition. NOtice that the start of 5 = the start of 3, and the end of 6 = the end of 3.

Pete
_________________
I am a SIGNATURE VIRUS, help me spread - attach me to your signature file.

Smoke2firE · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 5:20 pm Post subject:

pretty simple you can only have 4 major partitions, an extended partition allows you more but you may not boot from an extended partition. so thats why as suggested you need to put a /boot partition in your primary partitions. the hda3 is just sort of a "index" partition that is used as a channel to map to the extended partitions nothing goes on it. youve already used its space to make the partitions 5 & 6 :wink:

cheers

heh i was too late hitting send

Pete_Keller · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 5:41 pm Post subject:

at your speed smoke, it is smoke to no fire :lol:

However I have to disagree with you, grub CAN boot an OS off of an extended partition, it just has to be loaded onto a primary partition.

Pete
_________________
I am a SIGNATURE VIRUS, help me spread - attach me to your signature file.

Smoke2firE · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 6:03 pm Post subject:

hmm i dont use grub sorry for my confusion

i thought that what i said was right though as long as /boot is on a primary partition the rest can be on an extended if im wrong in what i said please clarify

kalel · n00b Joined: 06 Nov 2003 Posts: 3

Okay, so all I have to do is delete hda2 and hda3 to get it right? sounds easy enough.

kwiqsilver · Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 360

I think with lilo even the /boot directory can be in an extended, as long as lilo is installed in the MBR.
I think that's how I used to do it with Debian, can't remember exactly though.

Pete_Keller · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 8:28 pm Post subject:

kwiqsilver,

You do not have to delete any partitions, just reformat them as shown around code page 6.14.

Pete
_________________
I am a SIGNATURE VIRUS, help me spread - attach me to your signature file.

kwiqsilver · Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 360

Uhh...okay.
How exactly does that relate to what I said?

paranode · l33t Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 679 Location: Texas