HD Install :: Partitioning with Fdisk

Hey everyone, I've been trying to install damn small linux on my 4gig pentium 2 laptop, but I don't know how to partition my hard drive properly...like when I open Fdisk, I get a dos prompt and I don't know exactly what type of partition I have to make for dsl to work (FAT32, etc.?).

Also, I have another computer that I'm trying to install on as well, but I don't have a working OS on it (some left over files are left though), so I was wondering how I could format the whole hard drive to use entirely for DSL through just a DSL or maybe a windows 98 disk?

Help would be unbelievably appreciated!

I think most people find that cfdisk is easier because you get visible menus on the screen. Start by deleting the current partitions and then write three new ones. The first one should be Primary, bootable, and Linux, the second should be logical, linux and swap, and the third can be primary or logical and Linux. Then format them with mke2fs and mkswap (for swap).
http://www.lissot.net/partition/

I would like to keep my windows partition though...Do I have to delete it for these steps to work?

If you want to keep your windows partition, but already have other partitions, then just delete and reformat the others, and the Windows partition will be preserved. If you only have one big Windows partition, then you will need to resize it with qparted, or something equal to that.

Chasehead - Just a word to the wise. Make a backup of your windows data before you start the partition process. A slip of the finger on the keyboard or the wrong mouse click can wipe out your data in an instant.

Also if you need to resize the windows partition do a defrag (part of the disk tools in windows) on it first.

Some places to look for graphical partitioning software are:

The SystemRescueCD: http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page

The GParted LiveCD: http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php

DSL will work with a EXT2 type partition. I don't remember if it works with EXT3 or Reiser but I'm sure if you do a forum seach you might find something.

Good luck.

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