partition hard drive xp / linux

[retired]

I just got an r52 with a 60 gb hard drive. It has a fresh install of xp home with the hidden recovery partition. I just reinstalled the xp with the built in recovery program. Now I want to install linux (pclinuxos) and my plan is to have 2 roughly 30 gb partitions one for xp and one for linux. If I repartition c in this manner, will I be sure of not messing up xp and the hidden recovery partition ? Am I correct in thinking that xp and all the ibm stuff and the hidden recovery partition would be at the beginning of the hard drive ? Thanks in advance for any help. What a great site !

[Marin85]

I guess that depends on the partition utility one uses. I use Acronis Disk Director and it shows how different partitions are placed on the HD, and it also can displace those.

[tom lightbody]

> am I correct in thinking that xp and all the ibm
> stuff and the hidden recovery partition would be at
> the beginning of the hard drive

on my 60gb hd, XP is at the front, but the recovery partition
is at the back end: with linux in between (debian)

> my plan is to have 2 roughly 30 gb partitions one for
> xp and one for linux. If I repartition c in this
> manner, will I be sure of not messing up xp and the
> hidden recovery partition ?

suggest
1. defrag yr XP partition to get everything up front
2. use some partition table editor such as Partition
Magic or gparted (linux): this will show the
partitioning scheme as it is, and permit you to
shrink the XP partition. Personally, I leave the
remainder unallocated--the debian installer uses the
largest available free space. Or you could
make a linux partition--or several
3. reboot into XP and run awhile, check everything
works OK
4. install linux

lately I've been using "systemrescue" bootable CD
for these chores: gparted is on there.

keep us posted, please

[retired]

OK - I used gparted to repartition my hard drive and it worked great. Found everything and my install is a success - thanks for your help.