HD install on windows partition?

[riechert]

My system has a single 40M HD with 2 FAT32 partitions-
c: - minimal Win 98 which I can throw away as I don't use it any anymore
- some XP program installations
- folders of data, MP3s, pictures, some old DOS programs, etc.
d: has XP and some program installations

Can I install knoppix to c: while keeping FAT32 on both partitions and without loosing the files already there?

If so, I presume the install will replace my current XP boot menu with a Linux one so that I can boot either, correct?

I can see that resizing of the partitions and/or adding an additional partition might be helpful. Does knoppix provide a partition tool of some sort that works with FAT32?

[A. Jorge Garcia]

Take a look at this:

http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2021

Regards,

[Stephen]

You could try a HD Based install to do what you want.

If you do want the win98 anymore you could just install to the hard drive and not let lilo write to the MBR and boot with floppy.

Partition Managers are here.

[riechert]

I played a little bit with the HD based iso option. During the boot I got some warning(s) about using a FAT32 partition. Once it started Konquerer opened with an error that it couldn't find the file. The 2nd is probably due to the fact that only the iso file is in c:\knoppix and not the entire CD. I assume that neither is important?

For now the HD based iso option is probably all I need. Plus it has the added benefit that I can't screw it up

But, thinking ahead, if/when I want to go to a full HD installation, does it require a linux formatted partition or can it exist on and run from a FAT32 partition, allowing me to install/delete pacakges, etc? From my reading of the documentation it appears the answer is no.

[Dave_Bechtel]

--No, you cannot run Linux from a FAT32 partition the way you are thinking; that would be UMSDOS. Google for it. Subpar performance, not what you want in the long run.

--What I would recommend, if you are throwing away Win98, is to run fdisk:
' fdisk /dev/hda '

--Delete the win98 partition
--Make a swap partition (type 82) of at least 128Meg
--Make a Linux partition of at least 2300Meg for Knoppix (this will be root)
--If you have space leftover, make another Linux partition or an extended partition. Here you can throw in a logical D: for XP or however many other partitions you like.

--Using software like PartitionMagic makes the process a whole lot easier.

--Um, just to clear something up; you should have the big "knoppix" file from cdrom:\knoppix directory in c:\knoppix, not the iso.

I played a little bit with the HD based iso option. During the boot I got some warning(s) about using a FAT32 partition. Once it started Konquerer opened with an error that it couldn't find the file. The 2nd is probably due to the fact that only the iso file is in c:\knoppix and not the entire CD. I assume that neither is important?

For now the HD based iso option is probably all I need. Plus it has the added benefit that I can't screw it up

But, thinking ahead, if/when I want to go to a full HD installation, does it require a linux formatted partition or can it exist on and run from a FAT32 partition, allowing me to install/delete pacakges, etc? From my reading of the documentation it appears the answer is no.