Fresh install Kubuntu 13.10: how best to partition the HD

[Basil Chupin]

On 07/11/13 02:24, Felix Miata wrote:
> On 2013-11-06 23:45 (GMT+1100) Basil Chupin composed:
>
>> * As I already stated I do not run Kubuntu (but openSUSE 13.10) and
>
> There is no openSUSE 13.10 now, next week, or most likely ever: 
> https://en.opensuse.org/Roadmap :-p

The number 13.10 is the same as 13.1000 or 13.1000000000 or 
13.100000000000000000000000000000.

However, 13.10.x is a totally different kettle of fish.

Bas is talking about Kubuntu 13.10 and also mentioned openSUSE 13.10. I 
just go along with his terminology and don't try to wast time explaining 
things.


> May I with the outmost of respects suggest that you do NOT do this but
>> install Win #7 on its own and then "dual boot" rather than have it
>> embedded in Linux under Virtualbox?
>
> Or install W7 on its own *and* run it as an application under VBox, so 
> no need to give up Linux data access whilst running W7 apps...

That is what you would do. I wouldn't go this way - and haven't. I 
learnt from my experience in using XP under VirtualBox.

However, its up to Bas to decide what he wants to do.


> I am also advised by a friend who tried this that there are some Windows
>> programs which will not run unless they are run in a purely Windows 7
>> installed system.
>
> ...and actually boot W7 if and when this is an issue.
>
>> Linux can read/write to Windows filesystems (FAT32, NTFS eg) but Windows
>> is brainddead and cannot see anything-Linux.
>
> Actually EXT2 access is available after installing an appropriate 
> driver, according to reports I've read. It may be this has been 
> extended to EXT3 and possibly EXT4 as well, but I don't use Windows 
> enough to bother taking the risk.

So you don't use Windows enough to be able to make a considered comment, 
right?

Mentioning ext2 and ext3 and anything else is only a means of confusing 
the issue.

Using ext2 is now ancient practice as is using ext3.


> Reason why you use this GParted is that the partitioner in Kubuntu may
>> not be able to properly format the NTFS partition you will need for W7
>> (at least if you follow my recommendation re where W7 should go).
>
> Formatting is not a traditional partitioner's job. Partitioners are 
> for partitioning. Unless you wish to install to a partition you wish 
> formatted in a different configuration from what the installation 
> application makes available, the right tool to use for formatting is 
> the one doing the installing of the particular operating system.

Partly correct - the bit which is correct is the last sentence: a 
partition should be formatted by the system to be installed on it.

However, I have found that using the partitioner in oS it formats the 
partitions perfectly.

Why I am suggesting for Bas to use the SystemRescueCD is that the oS 
partitioner does not do a good NTFS format (as far as I remember, but 
correct me if I am wrong) but GParted does do NTFS.


> (Like mc [Midnight Commander] SystemRescueCD is a tool which must exist
>> in everyone's collection of useful tools.)
>
> There exist better OFMs for particular purposes, but MC is the overall 
> best while running Linux. For Windows there seems to be more OFMs 
> available. The one I use when running OS/2 or Windows comes from 
> http://silk.apana.org.au/fc.html and for particular activities I use 
> it also in Linux, most often editing and copying from text files to 
> other applications.
>
>> I suggest the following, and bearing in mind that I strongly recommend
>> installing W7 on its own:
>
>> drive...size...format...label name...mount point
>> sda1   1GB     ext4    btldr      (do not mount)
>
> Gross overkill.

Yes, most likely it is an overkill.

But it makes explaining something to someone less painful when one uses 
the same terms throughout an explanation. In this case everything is 
stated in GB - less confusion than mixing in MB and GB all over the place.

Besides, there is plenty of disc space for Bas to play around with and 
1GB actually works out to be around 900MBs. So why stuff around with 
paltry 1 GB when you have 250GB and 500GB to play around with?


> sda2 30GB   NTFS   windows   windows
>> sda3   30GB   ext4    linux1       / <==first Linux system
>
> Most likely gross overkill.

See response above.

But you also said that you don't have much experience with Windows.

Well, let me tell you that if you do not have enough disc space for 
Windows to install it simply won't install. And you have wasted your 
time in partitioning your HDD in preparation of installing Windows. Been 
there, done that.

Windows copies its files onto the HDD. It then unarchives the files. It 
then installs them. If there is insufficient space to do all this 
Windows aborts - and you have to go back to square one.

Also Bas seems happy with the figure of 30GB and I have no objection to 
this figure.

Having this amount of disc space allows for some leeway in case space is 
suddenly needed at a later stage.

[...]

BC

-- 
Using openSUSE 13.1, KDE 4.11.2 & kernel 3.11.6-4 on a system with-
AMD FX 8-core 3.6/4.2GHz processor
16GB PC14900/1866MHz Quad Channel Corsair "Vengeance" RAM
Gigabyte AMD3+ m/board; Gigabyte nVidia GTX660 OC 2GB DDR5 GPU