Hi there, I am reasonably new to disk partitioning, and I would like I few pointers. I have currently got the following configuration: Primary partition for Win XP; Primary partition for SUSE Linux; Primary partition for Express Media Player (came with the laptop); Primary partition for Linux Swap. I am looking to add Windows Vista to my list of OS's, and also seperating all my files from my Win XP partition. Now obviously the problem is that I've already got 4 Primary partitions. I boot from 3 of them (well, GRUB handles Windows and SUSE, there's a different button on my laptop to load with Express Media Player). So, to the questions. Firstly will Vista (and XP) be able to see the partition I make for my data? I read somewhere that Windows ignores all but the active partition, is this regardless of file system and does it apply to XP and Vista? (It was an old article). If there's some way to make a partition that I can put data on so Windows and Vista can both see it (and SUSE?), then my next question is how do I go about implementing this setup? I can lose express media player but I'd rather not, is there any way to do this with an extended partition? I don't really understand them. I need to configure GRUB to work with Vista as well, and presumably reconfigure it for XP and SUSE if the process will involve changing their partitions. The reason I decided to come here instead of diving straight in is because if I need to make an extended partition I am not sure how booting from it will work (if I need to). If you can answer both those questions and explain how to set up GRUB properly afterwards then I will be eternally grateful!! Thanks very much. Andrew
I think I can answer at least one of the questions: Windows (both flavours) will see NTFS and FAT (16 or 32) partitions. In computer management it will see others (ext2 or three etc) but it will not mount/access them. Windows does not like those (appear as unknown....). Linux on the other hand can see, mount and access anything that Windows can. So you can have the data partitions as NTFS. I think Windows can use non-active partitions to store data, just not for OS's. As for your other question, I am afraid I have no experience with more than two OS's and all my partitioning was done via a set of floppies without booting into any of my installations. Hope this helps....
for an OS to boot, wether it be XP, Vista or linux yot only need 1 primery active partition (to install the boot loader) you just need to configure GRUB on the only primery partition all other partitions can be logical partition within the extended partition BTW: download and read carefully the GRUB manual (assuming you are using 0.97 of GRUB)[ot]although i know it can be done, i still need to go through the GRUB maual properly myself[/ot] Edit: you can convert partitions from primery to extended with Acronis Disk Director Suite, i use Acronis Partition expert 2k3 which has being updated and is included with Disk Director suite yes, Win can access non-active primery partitions & logical partitions i'm the opposite, i always edit GRUB's config from my booting install BTW: all linux partitions can be logical except /boot (GRUB's partition)
