UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I am installing FreeBSD and I have the FreeBSD Handbook on how to install it.

I have read it twice over and I am going to try to do it right the first time. I am running Windows 98 with two hard drives. Only one has the OS on it the other is just a FAT32 partition.

I want to put FreeBSD on the DRive with just the FAT32 partition, not WIndows. I have PartitionMagic 6.0 and I would rather make the partition on the drive with that.

When I partition the Drive what type of partition should I make it?

Also if you have done this before any other tips would be helpful. Thanks.

First off, you won't be able to install FreeBSD on a FAT32 partiton. It will have to be some other sort of format, probably available through a formatting tool with BSD...

Usually *nix, in my experience uses something like an "ext" or "ext2" format. Although there are dozens if not hundreds to choose from.

Keep in mind that depending on the install features of BSD (I've never played with BSD so I dont' know), but it should lead you through formatting and partitioning the drive.

I don't think PartitionMagic will format the drive how you will want it anyways... regardless, don't forget a swap partition (approx. the size of your available RAM), root partition '/', and then whatever other partitions you might want... I usually just throw everything else in '/home'.

Will the FreeBSD thing screw up what I have on the hard drive already? If I make a 10 G partition, how will it do it?

How big will the partition be with the rest of my windows stuff on it?

man i dont know what happen to my other post but....

a 10g partion is a good amount of space to play with. when u install u will end up cutting up that 10 gig into diffearnt filesystems for bsd. ie one for root one for swap and so forth.

teh size of your remaining windows partion would end up being:

size of harddrive - 10gig= whats left for that windows partition.

And yes, reformatting will make all other data on your drive unreadable to you. So backup, re-partition, install your operating systems, and restore from backups. That's the best way to do it.