[NTLUG:Discuss] Hardware for Linux

Brian briank at hex.net
Fri Mar 10 13:49:15 CST 2000


Al Wyatt wrote:
> 
> Greetings all.

And salutations.  You didn't mention if this was going to be a
first-time Linux install for you, or if you've done this before.

> 4. Partitioning the hard disk: IIRC, suse's distro has
> software for re-partitioning an existing HD without
> losing data (this would be helpful if I buy a PC with
> the M$ o.s. already on it).  Do other distros have
> such a utility?  Should I just buy something like
> Partition Magic if I really want to do this?

I always recommend to folks who are unfamiliar with Linux installs to
simply invest in a separate harddrive for the Linux O/S.  No, it's not a
necessity; I've heard good things about Partition Magic and know it's
possible to juggle things around on an existing harddrive to install
Linux.  But you have to ask yourself:  Is the risk worth it?  It just
takes one wrong write to a sector to completely trash the entire drive. 
If you find this to be an acceptable risk, then by all means go the
re-partitioning route.  I've done scores of Linux installs, and to this
day I still don't believe it's an acceptable risk.

I apply the same reasoning to automated fdisk tools.  There's just
something not right about trusting your disk (especially one that has
pre-existing partitions) to a "black box" utility like Disk Druid on RH
(I believe there's one on the new SuSE distro, but I've not used it). 
You get very little feedback; and if the app fails (which has occurred
more than once for me), you're never too sure just exactly what the
status of your drive is.  Better, IMO, to stick with fdisk, muddle your
way through the docs and fdisk's meager menu system, and make damn sure
that your partitions don't overlap!

  --Brian




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