I read the old posts about dual booting windows and linux, and I just wanted to clarify something: If I buy the mandrake version of linux, will that by itself partition the hard drive, or do I still have to get a copy of partition magic? If the mandrake version can do it, is it an easy process?
Thanks!
Hmm, well, im not too familiar with Mandrake but I would imagine it has some type of partitioning tool besides FDISK.(I know Red Hat has Disk Druid for partitioning)
If you are comfortable with FDISK, FDISK will work fine in slicing your hard drive up so you can put on both Windows and Mandrake on the same drive.
If you are not comfortable with FDISK, double check to see what Mandrake offers. If you need to, you can always break down and buy Partition Magic.
On a side note, I recommend learning FDISK so you are comfortable with it. FDISK is very powerful and once you have the basics, it is quite easy. (Disklabel is very fun to learn too 
)
Tarballed
U can use FIPS it is tini little thing and will move the win98/95 for U, so you will get some space for your Mandrake.
Generaly wich win are u using?
Yes, FIPS will allow you to move partition, and still be able to keep data if done correctly. I haven't used it in a long time, but if you do a little homework first, and check out how your drive is laid out, it will work fine.
If you want more info on FIPS, please post back (and I do believe it comes on the Mandrake CD - if not you an download it).
First let me offer congrats to you for researching before you post.
Now let me say that I had bought a version of Mandrake, a few years ago, that has Partition Magic for Linux that is specifically for creating a partition for the Linux OS you are about to install.
I don't know if they still package them together, but I would read the box to see for sure.
If you install Mandrake...It auto creat partion and install linux...You don't need use Partion Magic...
Default install: You can dual boot: Windows or Linux...
Good Luck
you don't need to use part magic, the mandrake like redhat has the partition program for that. Just don't make any mistakes, if that's your first time installing mandrake, I would recomend being cautious, and don't delete your windows partition by mistake.
Aks everything you don't know, and since you get it in the store or on the web, don't forget you get the tech support from the company if I'm not mistaken. Cause I downloaded mine off the net for free.
If you got high speed connection get it off their ftp servers.