Help with partitioning - urgent

[Ed Fletcher]

Judy & Lindsay Roberts wrote:
> I am trying to create 3 or more partitions on a drive.
>  
> the first one if I understand it right should be the primary partition, 
> which I have done.
>  
> Fdisk will not let me set up any further primary drives, only extended 
> partitions which it wont allow me to make active.
>  
> Please a step by step.  
>  
> I've read enough but it all seems too techy for me,   Could some one 
> spell it out in plain newbie?   I have been to various sites and they 
> are only making me more confused and I'd like to get this small task 
> finished today.
> Linz

I'm guessing that you're using the DOS/Windows fdisk to partition your 
hard disk.  This isn't really the best way to proceed.  The fdisk that 
comes with Windows doesn't do a very good job of using cylinder 
boundaries.  I'd recommend that you boot from a Linux disk (any 
distribution will do) and make your partitions with that.  You will be 
able to make a number of primary partitions plus some logical partitions.

Are you trying to make a dual boot system?  IE: Windows and Linux?

If so, make the first partition a small one, about a hundred megs or so. 
  Use that for /boot when you load Linux.  Then make a large partition 
for Windows, set it as a dos partition and make it active (bootable). 
Write the changes to the disk, reboot and install Windows.  Then reboot 
with your Linux boot disk and it will guide you through the rest of the 
partitioning and installation.

Hope this helps,
Ed
-- 
Ed Fletcher
ed at fletcher.ca

What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless,
whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism
or the holy name of liberty or democracy?  -  Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)