Help! HD partitioning & installation of U

[Mario Vukelic]

On Fri, 2008-11-07 at 17:54 -0800, ppp IT wrote:
> Hi folks,
> 
> I am not a techie and so unfortunately do not understand the lingo,
> but have a problem and want to ask for your help:
> 
> I have a windows based laptop, just downloaded last version of ubuntu
> (so far have been using off of the CD) and want to install it in a
> small partition on hard drive.  
> 
> Could some kind soul help me out in what I need to do so that the
> current files and applications on the hard drive I have are not
> written over or lost? 

First of all, create a backup of all your important files and data (such
as stored passwords and the like). Test the backup and very that it
works. Only then start to install and partition.

The Ubuntu installer will offer you a number of options, like
      * Use whole disk for Ubuntu (don't do this)
      * Use free space (if you have some)
      * Resize existing partition (choose this)

There will be a simple slider that allows to set the new partition size.
Ubuntu will then install into what will be freed up.

Read this:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation
In particular (linked from above link):
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GraphicalInstall
There is a walkthrough with screenshots, thougth they are for version
8.04 LTS. 8.10 looks slightly different, but not so much as causing any
confusion.
Also: https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/switching/index.html

And in general:
https://help.ubuntu.com/
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/