Help with partitioning

[$hep]

Hi everyone,
I've used gentoo before(Its awsome) , But I use XP alot and I program(vb6 and .net) , so this is what I'm tring to do, which has proved to be painful.
This is the partition setup I'm attempting:
1-ntfs /play
1-ntfs /dev env.
1-fat32 /for transfer from ntfs to linux
1-ext2 /for boot
1-swap /for swap
1-ext3 /root
Basically I'm installing XP and using partition magic to create another logical ntfs then another logical for fat32 then another logical for swap then another logical for ext3 then finally primary for ext2.
So the partitions look like so:
[(P)NTFS]-[(L)NTFS]-[(L)FAT32]-[(L)SWAP]-[(L)EXT3]-[(P)BOOT]
This isn't working.. In fact it fries my [(P)NTFS(XP)] install.
Do you see anything wrong with this setup or any recommendations,
I've attemped this about 8 times. I've tried various Primary and Logical
setups and just can't seem to get it right.

Any help/suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks
$hep

[ikshaar]

Well you did not say what is not working... so I can only guess.

The boot partition as last is probably not good. The bios need to be able to see it and cannot if it's too far (i forgot the limit). Of course all depends on the size of your partitions (which you did not mention either)...

So just to show you a partitionning that works, mine is :

[$hep]

Hi again,
Thanks for the reply.
Ok I've started over again, tried to repartition again. This is exactly what I did and the outcome.
Deleted all partitions and reinstalled XP.
So now I have a new install of XP and installed partition magic.
I'm working with a 60gb drive.
I followed your partitioning scheme as follows.
[(P)NTFS]-10 Gb- This is my new install of XP
[(L)Ext2]-39.2 Mb- Linux Boot
[(L)Swap]-512 Mb-Linux Swap
[(L)Ext3]-20 Gb-Linux Root
[(L)Fat32]-5 Gb-Transfer for XP-Linux
[(L)NTFS]-21 Gb-For another XP install
Rebooted and crash(Blue screen of death)
Error:
A problem has been detected and windows has shut down to precent damage to your computer.
If the is the ...BlaBlaBla
Technical info:
*** Stop: 0x0000007B (0xF8970640,0xC0000000E,0x00000000,0x00000000)
Lost my first install of XP
I've sucessfully installed XP as a primary and all linux partitions as primaries.
Multibooted using Lilo fine.
But I'm tring to have 2 installs of XP 1 for play and 1 for work.
Do you see where I may have gone wrong?
I don't understand why I'm getting the blue screen.
I didn't mess with the original XP install except for resizing.

Thanks again,
$hep

[ikshaar]

I am puzzled too... if you have the crash just after resizing partition, before to install other XP or Linux, then you have either an hardware defect or PM is screwing your partition table.

From your error message I guess it's after the Windows Boot menu (F8)... which would suggest that PM is at fault, and do not resize the NTFS partition correctly.

No real solution, but I would suggest to test your memory and hard drive for defect (with a liveCD for example). A faulty sector might be to blame for PM failure to resize. Then in case you try to reinstall, one way to avoid resizing the Windows partition is to fix the size to 10Gb during the first install. Then you can create partition in Windows without using PM (you cannot format the Linux ones but that does not matter, just allocate the space).

PS: you said "I've sucessfully installed XP as a primary and all linux partitions as primaries.Multibooted using Lilo fine. " So what trigger the problem the first time, is it the resizing, or the 2nd windows installation ?
_________________
"May God stands between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk" - Babylon 5

[$hep]

Hi ikshaar,
Sorry for confusing you at the end there.
I had previously had Xp and Linux , but couldn't work on the Xp cause I needed dev env. and I had surfed and installed uninstalled mean while certain libraries are being replaced.. Can't have that for work.
So I needed 2 Xp installs, 1 for play, 1 for work, and I can't be without my gentoo.
So this leaves me at my current state.
Since last I,
Deleted the original XP primary leaving other partitions alone.
Formated it and reinstalled. (Worked I still have all the other partitions).
I formated the 2nd NTFS and installed the second XP.(Still installing.)

Thanks again,
$hep

::EDIT:::
Both Xp installs are working.
Now on to the good stuff...

[ikshaar]

Good... if PM was at fault.. you should be ok this time.

Let me know.
_________________
"May God stands between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk" - Babylon 5

[$hep]

All has gone well,
I have both XP installs and a successful install of Gentoo..
Thanks so much.
1 question while I got ya here.
Is there a way to clone this drive or backup all its contents(All partitions)
In case of melt down. I'd be able to plop this dvd in and put everything back in place and reboot. ( Before I start tinkering )?
Maybe I should ask this else where.
Maybe I can Clone\Copy each partition and replace as needed.

Any help or input is much appreciated.
Thanks
$hep

[ikshaar]

Well nice to hear it worked out...

You cannot save a 60Gb disk on a DVD so I am not sure what you want to do... My belief is that it is worthless trying to backup a Windows install, as it is so screwed up with time, you (at least I) need to reinstall it every year because of the bloat.

What I do is always keep "data" on another partition (the shared one) and have a copy of it on a second disk. Easy to do for pictures and such. But I also changed mailboxes location so they store messages on that shared partition.

I am not familiar with clone/copy tools, sorry. I just copy data, or use rsync. At work, I bought a external Lacie 250Gb drive and use a backup software which come with it... very handy (if you have the money).
_________________
"May God stands between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk" - Babylon 5