PRE-INSTALLATION NOTES FOR REDHAT LINUX 9.

PRE-INSTALLATION NOTES FOR REDHAT LINUX 9.0

Configuring A Dual Boot System

Most people load Linux on a computer along with another operating system, usually some
flavor of M.S. Windows such as Windows 95, 98, ME, XP and so on. Generally this is because
most users are still experimenting with Linux and haven’t yet made up their minds whether
they should adopt Linux as their favorite operating system or not.

Another factor that forces this type of arrangement is that Linux still does not have a large
number of software products that make an individual as productive as M.S. Windows does.
Hence most first time adopters of Linux try and keep a M.S. Windows presence along with
Linux. Their computers have two operating systems loaded on their hard disk with some flavor
of M.S. Windows and Linux.

If any computer has two operating systems loaded, it requires some sort of dual bootstrap
program loaded as well. This dual bootstrap program allows an operating system to be chosen
just prior actual O/s boot up into the computer’s memory.

Note
Two operating systems cannot run in the memory of the same computer at the
same time. Each operating system must boot from and use its own hard disk drive
or hard disk partition.

This material explains how to configure a computer to boot to Red Hat Linux or another
operating system. For clarity, the other operating system is assumed to be some flavor of
Microsoft Windows™. Having said this, the general procedure is similar for any other operating
system as well.
Note
During O/s installation, when using hard disk partitions set the proper partition for
Linux using fdisk (or any other hard disk partitioning utility). If no other operating
system is installed on the computer, install M.S. Windows first and then install
Red Hat Linux.

Tip
When installing Windows (versions from 9x to ME), partitions cannot be defined
during Windows installation. Partitions must be defined prior the installation of these
flavors of Windows.

When installing Windows NT or Windows 2000, partitions of a specific size can be

created for Windows during installation. Leave enough free space (space that is not
partitioned or formatted) on the hard drive to install Red Hat Linux. A minimum of
10GB is good enough for a full install of Linux with some space left over for
experimenting.

Page 1
INSTALLING REDHAT LINUX 9

Allocating Disk Space for Linux

Caution
Backup all important information before reconfiguring a hard drive.
Reconfiguring a hard drive can result in complete loss of data.

Additionally, be sure to create a boot disk for both operating systems in case the boot
loader fails to recognize either of them.

To install Red Hat Linux the choices are as follows:

‰ Add a new hard drive

‰ Use an existing hard drive or partition
‰ Restructuring an existing partition to create space for loading Linux

Note
For all three options, be aware that the BIOS in some older systems cannot access
more than the first 1024 cylinders on a hard drive. If this is the case, the /boot
Linux partition must be located on the first 1024 cylinders of the hard drive to
boot Linux.

Add A New Hard Drive

The simplest way to make room for Red Hat Linux is to add a new hard disk drive to the
computer and then install Red Hat Linux on that drive.

If a second IDE hard drive is added to the computer, the Red Hat Linux installation program
will recognize it as hdb and the existing drive (the one used by M.S. Windows) as hda.

Start the Red Hat Linux installation program and make sure Linux is being installed on the
newly installed hard drive (i.e. hdb) rather than the hard drive used by Windows.

Use An Existing Hard Drive Or Partition

Another way to make room for Linux is to use a hard drive that is currently being used by M.S.
Windows, which has an additional disk partition.

If Windows Explorer shows two hard drives, C: and D: this could indicate either that the
computer has two hard drives, or a single hard drive with two partitions. In either case
(assuming the hard drive has enough disk space), Red Hat Linux can be installed on the hard
drive or disk partition that Windows currently recognizes as D:

Page 2
 PRE-INSTALLATION NOTES FOR REDHAT LINUX 9.0

Note
Windows uses letters to refer to removable drives (for example, a ZIP drive or a
CD-ROM writer) and network storage (virtual drives) as well as for local hard drive
space. Linux cannot be installed on a removable or network drive.

If a local Windows partition is available in which Linux must be installed, complete the
following:

1. Copy all data from the selected hard drive or partition (D: in this example) to another
location. This data will be completely lost during Linux installation.

2. Start the Red Hat Linux installation program and instruct it to install Linux in the designated
drive or partition (i.e. the partition that M.S. Windows has designated as D:)

Note
Linux distinguishes between hard drives and disk partitions as indicated below.

If C: and D: on the computer refer to two separate hard drives, the installation
program will recognize them as hda and hdb (IDE) or sda and sdb (SCSI).

Tell the installation program to install on hdb (or sdb).

If C: and D: refer to partitions on a single drive, the installation program will

recognize them as hda1 and hda2 (or sda1 and sda2 i.e. SCSI partitions).

During the partitioning phase of the Linux installation, delete the second partition
(hda2 or sda2), then reallocate that free space to Linux.

Restructuring An Existing Partition To Create Space For Loading Linux

The third way to make room for Linux is to create a new partition for Red Hat Linux on the
hard drive being used by M.S. Windows. If Windows Explorer shows only one hard drive (C:),
then C: must be partitioned such that one partition will continue to hold M.S. Windows while
the other will hold Red Hat Linux.

After partitioning drive C:, Windows Explorer will see a smaller C: drive. When the Red Hat
Linux installation program is run, use the remainder of the drive for Linux.

A destructive partitioning program, such as fdisk, can be used to partition the hard drive.
Doing so will require the re-installation of Windows.

A number of non-destructive, third party partitioning programs, are available for M.S. Windows
(Partition Magic being one such, search for Windows based, hard disk partitioning programs
on the Internet using Google).

Page 3