Hi,

I have XP on my computer. I have burned the installer on a CD -

http://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst

My computer has a single 80G hard drive. How much memory at least will
I need in your opinion for Linux.

How can I install linux without loosing anything currently on my
computer?

Thanks for your help,

Barry.

Magnus.Moraberg@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have XP on my computer. I have burned the installer on a CD -
>
> http://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst
>
> My computer has a single 80G hard drive. How much memory at least will
> I need in your opinion for Linux.

Depends on what you want to do. You can install a small Linux in only a few Gig.

> How can I install linux without loosing anything currently on my
> computer?

Depends. There's always a risk when re-sizing existing partitions that you
might screw something up, by accident, and scrub your drives. I'd actually
recommend getting another inexpensive drive, and working with that. And to
experiemnt first, try a live CD! The Knoppix CD is pretty good, and I use the
CD and DVD for testing and repair purposes on Windows systems.

On Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:57:37 -0700, Magnus.Moraberg wrote:

> I have XP on my computer. I have burned the installer on a CD -
>
> http://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst
>
> My computer has a single 80G hard drive. How much memory at least will I
> need in your opinion for Linux.
>
> How can I install linux without loosing anything currently on my
> computer?

Before you do anything, do some reading. In fact, do a lot of reading.
I recommend RUNNING LINUX, 5th edition (O'Reilly) as a first choice.
After going through that book a couple times, you'll have a better
understanding of Linux and the install process. If you try to install
Linux right now without a good knowledgebase, you'll probably hose your
Windows install.

Also, read the Debian User and Install Manual. It's available on the
Debian web site.

As to how much space you need on the hard drive for Linux: That really
depends on what you intend to do. If it's just e-mail, web, light
business stuff, etc., not much. I have Debian Etch dualing booting with
Windows 2000 Pro on an old Thinkpad 240X with a 12 gig hard drive. W2k
has 3 gigs, Debian 8.5 and 512MB swap. The total Debian install, apps
and all system stuff, uses about 2 gigs. The rest is for data. However,
it was a very custom, app by app, install unlike a "Default" install,
which will put a lot of stuff on your HD that you'll NEVER need or use.
So, for a "Dfault" install allow about 4 gigs for system files and
applications, then about double that, at least, for data and personal
files. However, if you intend to store music files, movies and such,
you'll need a LOT more space above what the system requires.

So, play it safe. Be patient. Read and study. Then install. Plus, I'd
recommend that you install a second hard drive to put Linux on. Unlike
Windows, Linux doesn't have to be on the first partition of the first
drive to be happy. Also, by using a second drive, you don't have to
resize the Windows partition to make room for Linux, which has inherent
problems of its own.


Stef

Magnus.Moraberg@gmail.com wrote:

> I have XP on my computer. I have burned the installer on a CD -

> http://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst

> My computer has a single 80G hard drive. How much memory at least will
> I need in your opinion for Linux.

Depends upon how much data you want to store. Roughly twice the size of the
distribution should be enough if the distribution does not give you a minimum size.

> How can I install linux without loosing anything currently on my
> computer?

Very carefully using a partition program.

--
Bush is not America's Hitler. Hitler has a much higher approval rating to
the end and he actually served in war.
-- The Iron Webmaster, 3970
http://www.giwersworld.org/holo/nizgas3.html a4

Matt Giwer wrote:
> Magnus.Moraberg@gmail.com wrote:
>
>> I have XP on my computer. I have burned the installer on a CD -
>
>> http://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst
>
>> My computer has a single 80G hard drive. How much memory at least will
>> I need in your opinion for Linux.
>
> Depends upon how much data you want to store. Roughly twice the size
> of the distribution should be enough if the distribution does not give
> you a minimum size.
>
>> How can I install linux without loosing anything currently on my
>> computer?
>
> Very carefully using a partition program.

Actually the procedure goes Defrag the Windows partition.

Back up the partition.

Use the Window disk management tool to create a new
partition.

Use Linux disk/partition manager to convert the new Windows partion
to the Linux file system you favorm creating at least
three partitions, one for root(system), one small for Swap and one for
home(your personal files) and Install the Linux.

Some system configuration file will do all this as soon as they are
pointed to the new partition.

Write the boot manager to the MBR.

Reboot and pick which OS you want to work in this time
around.

later
bliss C O C O A Powered... (at california dot com)
--
bobbie sellers -(Back to Angband)Team *AMIGA & SF-LUG*

"It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of cocoa that the thoughts acquire speed,
the thighs acquire girth, the girth become a warning.
It is by theobromine alone I set my mind in motion."
--from Someone else's Dune spoof ripped to my taste.

<Magnus.Moraberg@gmail.com> wrote
> Hi,
>
> I have XP on my computer. I have burned the installer on a CD -
>
> http://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst
>
> My computer has a single 80G hard drive. How much memory at least will
> I need in your opinion for Linux.
>
> How can I install linux without loosing anything currently on my
> computer?

This is a lot easier than some replies seem to suggest. While I don't
disagree that doing lots of study and reading will be helpful, it's not
actually necessary to get Debian up and running on your machine. Try this:

1. Boot from the CD you burned, hit enter at the prompt for a 'normal'
install
2. When it gets to the partition manager stage, choose Manual partitioning
3. Select your Windows partition (it is probably the only one, unless you
have one of those wanky OEM recovery partitions or something).
4. Choose "resize the partition" - it will tell you the minimum size you can
make it - this of course depends on how full it is.
5. Reduce it by at least 10GB (this is plenty for messing around with Linux,
but more doesn't hurt if you can spare it).
6. Create TWO new Logical partitions: a small one (1 or 2GB, ideally 2x the
computer's RAM) and a large one (all the rest of the space)
7. Make sure the small one is set as "use as swap space" and the large one
is set to be mounted as / (the root partition).
8. Exit the partition manager and write the changes
9. Proceed with the rest of the install
10. Reboot into Debian and enjoy.

Good luck,

CC