Partition help on a 268gig drive

[WesternSlope]

I started out with a new install of Windows on a 268gig drive after my mess up before. I had more partitions than a 10 foot Levelor blind. With the size of drive I have and wanting at least 100gig for Mint, can anyone give suggestions on the sizes for the rest of the install for the main and swap?
Thanks

[caf4926]

Give 150GB to windows

Then manually partition with Gparted for Linux. Take all the free space and create an extended space.
Inside the extended space create logical partitions as follows

swap 2GB
ext4 20GB (for /)
ext4 80GB> (for /home)

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10573557/Mint_ ... deshow.mkv

[catweazel]

swap 2GB

I don't see how you can recommend that when the poster gave neither an indication of how much RAM the machine has nor whether or not hibernation is required.

What if the machine has 4GB of RAM and the poster wants to hibernate the machine?

And why not share /home on an NTFS partition? Wouldn't that make the dual boot OSen more useful to the poster?

[catweazel]

With the size of drive I have and wanting at least 100gig for Mint, can anyone give suggestions on the sizes for the rest of the install for the main and swap?
Thanks

The amount of swap you need depends on how much RAM you have. It is also affected by whether or not you want to hibernate the machine. If you have 8GB or more of RAM then you can probably get away without swap if you really want to. I have 16GB of RAM and no swap.

If you want to hibernate the machine then the swap partition must be at least the size of your total RAM. I'd recommend adding a bit more than total RAM just to be safe, say 10-20%.

You can also point your /home directory at your Windwoes "My Documents" folder using a symbolic link so that your documents are properly shared between each OS. The only drawback to this suggestion is that, from Windwoes, you'll see all the linux hidden folders, which begin with a period (.).

12-16GB should be more than enough for the root /.

[WesternSlope]

Give 150GB to windows

Then manually partition with Gparted for Linux. Take all the free space and create an extended space.
Inside the extended space create logical partitions as follows

swap 2GB
ext4 20GB (for /)
ext4 80GB> (for /home)

This is what I have, so far.
Windows Disk Managemet
I have 4GB of RAM. caf you say "Then manually partition with Gparted for Linux." Is that after starting the LiveCD and clicking "I want to do something else"?
Thanks
PS And TehGhodTrole Thank you too.

[caf4926]

"Then manually partition with Gparted for Linux." Is that after starting the LiveCD and clicking "I want to do something else"?

Yes, you can do that. Or just fire up Gparted before starting the installer.
Create an extended in all that free space and then logicals
8GB for swap
20GB ext4 for /
All the rest to ext4 for /home

I personally use Parted Magic CD (well a USB actually)
Then I boot up the Mint DVD

[WesternSlope]

I got the Parted Magic CD and looking it over. Nice layout and thanks for the tip. The way it looks you have the swap furthest to the left and the rest of the partitions go to the right? I don't want to mess it up this time. You might look at this post to see what I mean. http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 06#p700706 . It was a real mess! See The mess of messes link in the post for the pic. If I have my figures right.
8192MB for swap
20480MB ext4 for /
And the rest of the free space for ext4 for /home
I'm old, cold and tired, so please forgive for the on going questions.
Thanks

[caf4926]

I got the Parted Magic CD and looking it over. Nice layout and thanks for the tip. The way it looks you have the swap furthest to the left and the rest of the partitions go to the right? I don't want to mess it up this time. You might look at this post to see what I mean. http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 06#p700706 . It was a real mess! See The mess of messes link in the post for the pic. If I have my figures right.
8192MB for swap
20480MB ext4 for /
And the rest of the free space for ext4 for /home
I'm old, cold and tired, so please forgive for the on going questions.
Thanks

You seem to have it correct

There have been great debates about swap location, size etc...
But honestly, with a modern machine it really doesn't matter
You Mess link as you describe it - really wasn't bad

[WesternSlope]

The partitions are done I think. Now how do I get Mint in the right places.
Thanks
They look done?

[caf4926]

The partitions are done I think. Now how do I get Mint in the right places.
Thanks
They look done?

That is really confusing
Windows info is useless. Are they really all Primary? You would have to be using GPT rather than a DOS MBR table.
It looks fine except I don't trust windows. I'd prefer to see it in Gparted or from the the Live Mint session, do

Code: Select all

sudo fdisk -l

post result here

[usbtux]

naw swap on the right - furthest from the centre (centre is the left hand side) of the disk.

What the Fudge I hear you ask!!

The centre of the disk is nearest to the spindle - the bit that turns the plater - any thing that is nearest to the spindle gets read/write faster than the outside. As swap is not used that much it go's on the slower part of the disk - the outside. so your partitions should be - ROOT, HOME, SWAP.

If you take a look at the partitions from an automated install you'll see the swap is always on the right.

Yes I am that sad [;)]

[WesternSlope]

The partitions are done I think. Now how do I get Mint in the right places.
Thanks
They look done?

That is really confusing
Windows info is useless. Are they really all Primary? You would have to be using GPT rather than a DOS MBR table.
It looks fine except I don't trust windows. I'd prefer to see it in Gparted or from the the Live Mint session, do

Code: Select all

sudo fdisk -l

post result here

I did it with LiveCDgparted. Not Windows. Should I go back in with the Mint LiveCD and do it again?
Thanks

[caf4926]

The partitions are done I think. Now how do I get Mint in the right places.
Thanks
They look done?

That is really confusing
Windows info is useless. Are they really all Primary? You would have to be using GPT rather than a DOS MBR table.
It looks fine except I don't trust windows. I'd prefer to see it in Gparted or from the the Live Mint session, do

Code: Select all

sudo fdisk -l

post result here

I did it with LiveCDgparted. Not Windows. Should I go back in with the Mint LiveCD and do it again?
Thanks

Well I'd prefer to know what you have exactly. That windows info doesn't make sense
My machine hardly ever uses swap, so it's up to you about it's location.

[WesternSlope]

I'm running the the Mint LiveCD right now and I did use the Parted Magic CD. Not LiveCDgparted. Here is what you asked for.

Code: Select all

mint@mint ~ $ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x161c161c

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1            2048    24578047    12288000   27  Hidden NTFS WinRE
/dev/sda2   *    24578048    24782847      102400    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3        24782848   352458751   163837952    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda4       352458752   625141759   136341504    5  Extended
/dev/sda5       352460800   369238015     8388608   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6       369240064   410707967    20733952   83  Linux
/dev/sda7       410710016   625141759   107215872   83  Linux
mint@mint ~ $ 

So where do I go from here?
Thanks

[WesternSlope]

I went in and deleted all of the other partitions, but the extended. Here is what I have now.

Code: Select all

mint@mint ~ $ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x161c161c

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1            2048    24578047    12288000   27  Hidden NTFS WinRE
/dev/sda2   *    24578048    24782847      102400    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3        24782848   352458751   163837952    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda4       352458752   625141759   136341504    5  Extended
mint@mint ~ $ 

I'll go in and redo it through "the install".

[caf4926]

It looked fine
There was an extended with the Linux logical partitions inside.

Now go this route when you install
1. Something Else: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10573557/Mint_ ... n_opts.png
2. Set the mount points: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10573557/Mint_ ... tioner.png
3. For root / https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10573557/Mint_ ... t_root.png
4. For /home https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10573557/Mint_ ... t_home.png
Finally check this: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10573557/Mint_ ... loader.png

[WesternSlope]

Got it done and thak you for the help! I let Mint do it. I had it done, but couldn't set the swap to the swap extention, or what ever it's called, so I went ahead and did it the easy way. The grub looks a lot better. No extra entries for Windows with three lines and five different lines looking at Mint.

Code: Select all

d@d-Aspire-xxxx ~ $ sudo fdisk -l
[sudo] password for d: 

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders, total 625142448 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x161c161c

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1            2048    24578047    12288000   27  Hidden NTFS WinRE
/dev/sda2   *    24578048    24782847      102400    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda3        24782848   352458751   163837952    7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda4       352460798   625141759   136340481    5  Extended
/dev/sda5       352460800   616953855   132246528   83  Linux
/dev/sda6       616955904   625141759     4092928   82  Linux swap / Solaris
d@d-Aspire-xxxx ~ $ 

My Drive now.
Thanks again

[caf4926]

Except you didn't create a /home
which will mean you can't easily keep your files between installs

[WesternSlope]

Except you didn't create a /home
which will mean you can't easily keep your files between installs

I've redone it again and Oh..Oh. Will this really matter?
Makes me wonder...
Seems to be running alright, but down the road will it matter? All I have is time.
Thanks

[caf4926]

Except you didn't create a /home
which will mean you can't easily keep your files between installs

I've redone it again and Oh..Oh. Will this really matter?
Makes me wonder...
Seems to be running alright, but down the road will it matter? All I have is time.
Thanks

It looks fine