What is a partition?

In my last post (Switching to Linux Day 4), I said that I "partitioned" my hard drive.  What does that mean?

Think of your hard drive like a bookcase with adjustable shelves.  Let's say I insert a shelf toward the top of my bookcase.  I have just partitioned my bookcase.  I now have two sections in my bookcase... a smaller one (the top portion of the bookcase) and the larger bottom section.  Let's say I insert another shelf in the lower section.  I now have three sections of the bookcase, or three partitions. It is up to me to decide where to put the shelves in the bookcase, thus determining the space allowed for each section.  

It's the same with partitioning your hard drive.  Your hard drive is storage space, like a bookcase is storage space.  Partitioning your drive is nothing more than putting shelves in your bookcase.

How did I do it?

Let's review my computer specs:

• HP Pavilion a6742p-b
• 500 GB Hard Drive
• 6GB RAM
• Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Processor E5300
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 with 128MB dedicated memory, 287MB total available
• Vista Home Premium

So... my "bookcase" is a 500 GB hard drive.  

Vista makes partitoning a hard drive (putting shelves in your bookcase) fairly easy.

1. Log into an administrator account
2. click START > CONTROL PANEL
3. click on ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS
4. click on COMPUTER MANAGEMENT
5. click on STORAGE in the left window
6. click on PARTION AND FORMATTING
7. select the drive you want to partition (my "bookcase" was drive C:)
8. RIGHT click and select SHRINK VOLUME
9. type in the size you want for your new (bookshelf) partition ( I typed 25GB)
10. once the "bookshelf" partition is created, you will see a new rectangle box, with a black bar over it, with the size partition you specified and the word "Unallocated",  click on that box; diagonal lines should appear in the box
11. RIGHT click on that box
12. select NEW SIMPLE VOLUME
13. type in the size of your partition once more (for me I typed 24998 MB); this will be the same number as the "MAXIMUM SIZE" also shown in this dialog box.
14. click NEXT
15. click the radio button next to "Format this volume with the following settings"
16. "FILE SYSTEM" should be set at NTFS
17. "ALLOCATION UNIT SIZE" should be "Default"
18. "VOLUME LABLE" is the name for this partition
19. leave the two check boxes blank
20. click NEXT
21. wait for the formatting to finish
22. you now have a partioned hard drive (a bookcase with a shelf).

Switching to Linux Day 4

Ok... so it's been longer than a day since my last post.  But this is only the fourth day of this whole switching to Linux thing.  

First let's start off with my current computer specs... 

• HP Pavilion a6742p-b
• 500 GB Hard Drive
• 6GB RAM
• Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Processor E5300
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 with 128MB dedicated memory, 287MB total available 
• Vista Home Premium

Ok... so that's the machine.. less than a year old.  Time to play!!!

First.. I partitioned the drive so I could try out Windows 7 RC ( so far I love it).  Then I set up a partition for Ubuntu.  I allotted 25 GB for the Ubuntu partition.  That's more than enough for Ubuntu to run smoothly.

Next I put the Ubuntu CD in the drive and restarted the computer.  When the computer rebooted the Ubuntu install screen loaded.  From that menu I chose "Install Ubuntu."  I followed the on screen prompts and filled in the information.  On the partition screen I selected "Manual" so that I could tell Ubuntu exactly which partition I wanted it to use.  This is very important because you run the risk of writing over your other partitions if you do not specifically tell Ubuntu where it belongs.  

I opted not to set a swap area and continued with the install.  

And it didn't work.

There is a conflict with the boot loader between Ubuntu and Windows.  Kind of like grouchy neighbors that don't get along.  

So after much trial and scouring the net and pulling in the gurus from Simply Tux, we tried a new method.

I rebooted the computer into Vista and logged into the admin account.  In the admin account I reformatted the 25 GB partition to NTFS, which allows windows to recognize the partition.

Then I reinserted the Ubuntu Install Cd and selected "run umenu.exe" from the autoplay menu.

From the install ubuntu screen I chose the "Install inside windows" option.  

From the next menu I selected the "drive" (the name given to the designated partition), set up the user account name and password, selected the installation size, and left everything else the same. 

Quick as a flash (ok 10 min or so) Ubuntu was mostly installed.. the disk ejected... and the onscreen prompt asked to reboot the computer.  Click finish.  

The computer rebooted, and Ubuntu was now a choice on the Windows Vista boot loader ( a black screen with scary looking old style computer text, where the mouse doesn't work).  

Using the arrow keys I navigated down the list to Ubuntu and hit "enter."

Ubuntu loaded... double checked its files and space... and basically.. moved in to its partition. (much like finally settling into a new apartment once all the moving boxes are unloaded.)

I now have three fully functional choices for operating systems.  Nothing crashed... nothing was broken or ruined... all my windows files are secure and untouched.  

So far... everything is a success.  Yes I ran into problems.. but there was a solution that was less aggrevating than many Windows solutions.  The "Install in Windows" option was painless... easy... and did not mean that Ubuntu would be a "program" that you double click on your Windows desktop.  It's just an easier way to install Linux on the partition you designate when Windows and Linux bootloaders don't want to get along.

Next post will discuss changing themes, downloading programs, and other basic ways to "personalize" Ubuntu.

This post can be read at the Simply Tux Forum

Switching to Linux Day 3

Well... leave it to a non geek to crash Ubuntu in less than five minutes playing solitaire.  I got the blinking black screen of death (BBSOD) and everything!!! Surely this ups my geek ranking!

First things first.  I put in the Ubuntu live cd and then rebooted my computer to trigger the computer to boot from the cd.  So far so good.  I followed the on screen prompts and chose not to install anything, as I wanted to take a look around first.  

At first glance, the setup looks remarkably like Windows, so I felt more comfortable.  There are a few features that I like about Ubuntu, such as "hover music" in that when you hover over a music file, it actually plays while you hover your mouse cursor over the file.  Thus making it much easier to determine if that music file is the one you want without actually opening the file.  I really like "hover music."  (I don't know if that's what you'd call it.. but I like the term "hover music.")

Ubuntu allows for multiple desktops.  That means that I can really organize what programs I access, putting most common business programs on a business desktop.. or perhaps all my entertainment files on an assorted media desktop.  

The programs that come with Ubuntu are also very useful and have Windows equivalents. For example.. Gimp is the Linux version of Photoshop.  OpenOffice.org is the Linux version of Microsoft Office.  Pidgin for instant messaging. Pretty much everything I need to do in Windows, I have the ability to do in Linux, with the Linux versions being on par with the Windows equivalents. 

Next comes the games folder.  I don't usually play games, but it's worth a look to see what's there.  My goodness.  The solitaire game folder alone, is HUGE!  I think there must be 100+ versions of solitaire.  Oh boy... time to try one out.  I chose AisleRiot.  Things were going well... I was having fun.. and then it happened!!!!  My worst fear... the screen went blank.. then started blinking between black... and darker black!  Crap.. I've fried it all.. I've ruined my new computer.. I never should have done this.. I hate Linux!!!  Time to get out the rollin pin and start bashing the techie that said nothing would go wrong!!!  

Ok.. please note... no techies were actually harmed and the computer was not fried or ruined.   What happened was there was a "traffic jam" in the information being sent to the computer from the cd.  Sort of similar to those error messages from Windows "This program has encountered a problem and needs to close." resulting sometimes in the Blue Screen of Death.  Linux does the same thing without having the entire system crash.  Simply pressing enter diagnosed the problem, shut down that program, and reloaded the desktop, and I was good to go.  No system restarts, no holding in the power button to reboot.  

Overall I am pleased with Ubuntu, and have learned that even if errors happen, they are easier to fix because of the way Linux designs programs to work independently of each other.  

My next step is to partition my computer and install Ubuntu.  Thus when I boot up my computer, I will be able to choose between my various operating systems (Windows Vista, Windows 7RC, and Ubuntu).

This post can be read at the Simply Tux Forum.

Switching to Linux Day 1

I am an administrator at the Simply Tux Forum. But I have never used any of the Linux operating systems before. Here's why:

• I'm worried it will screw up my computer.


• I don't know how to keep my files.


• I don't know if my gadgets will work.


• I don't have the technical knowledge.


• I don't know which Linux OS to start with.


• There's something besides Windows?


• How good can something free really be?


• What if I don't like Linux? Will I lose Windows?


• Can I have more than one operating system?

So if I've never used Linux, then why am I admin at a Linux Forum? That's easy enough to answer...I know the owner. Also, I have exceptionally good graphic skills, so I am in charge of the design of the forum. I help with forum maintenance, as well as providing non Linux tech help and general conversation.

But I've decided to take the plunge. I am going to try Linux. I've enlisted the help of a tech genius to help me use Linux without messing up my computer...without losing my Windows operating system...and to prevent me from throwing the computer out the window should something go wrong! :p

Even with a tech genius standing by, I am more than a bit worried. I am afraid I will mess up my computer beyond repair, and/or lose my files, and I am not even sure I will like Linux. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I have chosen Ubuntu 8.10 to begin my journey into the Linux world. Ubuntu is widely considered the most user-friendly of all the Linux operating systems. I will be running it off a live CD, so I will not be installing anything on my PC just yet. I'll save the option of dual-booting (having two operating systems on my computer) for a later date.

I will make regular entries journalling my experience with Linux. I intend to be blatantly honest, without regard to my position at a Linux forum. The purpose of the Simply Tux forum is to show the average PC user that there is an alternative to Windows. Therefore, I have taken that mission statement seriously, and have decided to leave my comfort zone and try something new with the aid of the Linux experts from the Simply Tux Forum.

Simply Tux Bringing Linux to the masses!

Simply Tux is devoted to providing everyone with honest information and assistance with the Linux operating system.

Simply Tux is for those thinking about switching to Linux, newbies, and seasoned pros alike to share tech tips and tricks, educate, develop, and discuss the Linux platform.

Visit the Simply Tux Forum at

http://simplytux.jbstylized.com/