Getting to know Linux inside out.

Slide · **Joined:** Dec 15, 2011 **Posts:** 129

gerard82 wrote:

Hi Slide,
Where would you like to install Mint?
I see 11.72 GB Free but it's also called recovery partition.
A recovery partition is needed to repair Windows afaik.
For "normal" use you would be ok with 4 GB RAM,no need for swap.
But Gimp can use a lot of it when you work on large files.
In the Preferences you can limit Gimp's RAM use but then it will need swap.
You could install on 11 GB but it will leave little for saving large files.
As for uninstalling Linux you could boot from your Mint cd/dvd and use the tools provided to reformat the partition to NTFS.
I don't know if the Mint disk comes with "mkfs.ntfs" program.
http://www.sysresccd.org/Download will give you a cd that can.
Gerard.

Actually I have about:
12 GB for recovery
100 MB for System reserve and
150 GB Free and this site says to, looks like half of the free and to use that for Linux.
Dual-boot Linux Mint 11 and Windows 7
but I wouldn't want that much. I made a rescue disk the other day. I also saved a drive image.
Thank you for your time.

Slide · **Joined:** Dec 15, 2011 **Posts:** 129

GnuTux wrote:

Slide wrote:

I really don't have that big of a drive and not that much left of what I do have. Which would be the best way to go? Also can I do a clean remove of the install if I want?
Thanks

Is that how your Acer came from the factory or have you re-installed or upgraded Windows on the system?

In other words, can you still hit Alt-F10 (I believe that's it) to bring up your recovery menu?

You have to be careful when upgrading Windows or installing Linux on systems with recovery partitions you want to keep or you might overwrite the Acer custom MBR, which will keep you from getting into the system recovery menu and accessing the recovery partition.

That actually may not be a problem, you can always recover from disks (if you have them). If you've upgraded Windows or you're dual booting two operating systems on the same drive and overwritten the MBR, the Acer recovery partition is probably not very useful, at this point. In that case, you could use it for something else.

The system came with Win7 home. I upgraded it to Win7 Ultimate. I made a rescue disk and I did a drive image. I have EasyBCD for the mbr and how it will come up. Win7, or Mint. I want to be prepared for any mess up that may happen. If you can think of anything please let me know.
Thank you for your time also.

Slide · **Joined:** Dec 15, 2011 **Posts:** 129

Thanks Rich,
I think you can see what I have in mind and how I'm trying to do it in the other two posts.
Thank you for your time also.
Whoops...
Forgot to ask I need to shrink for the install. :oops:

saulgoode · **Posted:** Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:12 pm **(#24)**

If you have the option to add a second harddrive, that would be best. A full installation of even a "bloated" GNU/Linux distribution will typically fit in less than 20Gb (though this may not leave much room for data), so even a small 40Gb drive would work.

If you are not able to install a second drive (you are using a laptop with one drive slot, or you don't have the means to acquire another drive), then you should try to dedicate at least 40Gb for your GNU/Linux partition. You do not really need a swap partition, though I would recommend at some later date creating a swap file (this is just a pre-allocated file on your normal partition that is used by Linux for swapping). Note that if you wish your computer to "hibernate", you will indeed need a swap partition that is at least as large as your available memory.

Slide · **Joined:** Dec 15, 2011 **Posts:** 129

saulgoode wrote:

If you have the option to add a second harddrive, that would be best. A full installation of even a "bloated" GNU/Linux distribution will typically fit in less than 20Gb (though this may not leave much room for data), so even a small 40Gb drive would work.

If you are not able to install a second drive (you are using a laptop with one drive slot, or you don't have the means to acquire another drive), then you should try to dedicate at least 40Gb for your GNU/Linux partition. You do not really need a swap partition, though I would recommend at some later date creating a swap file (this is just a pre-allocated file on your normal partition that is used by Linux for swapping). Note that if you wish your computer to "hibernate", you will indeed need a swap partition that is at least as large as your available memory.

Thanks Saul,
I don't have another drive and right now I don't see one in the near future. I have read that 40-47 GB would be enough, but just wanted to make sure. Right now I bet I have over 20-30 GB in junk files. May have to be a garbage man tonight and go throw it away.
Thanks for your help.

Slide · **Joined:** Dec 15, 2011 **Posts:** 129

I still have done nothing with installing Mint on my laptop hard drive. I found an app for cloning. Has anyone used Clonezilla? I figured If I can clone my Win7 to the external; I would be able to run Mint from the external. Other than the image for my hard drive I have about 300GB. Is that right, or am I way off base? :oops:

Thanks