Ubuntu questions

I'm hoping to install Ubuntu on my laptop soon and I have a few questions.

First, would a partition size of 15GB be sufficient?
Second, do I need to create a new partition beforehand or will it create one out of the free space on my D: drive when it installs?
And finally, would I be able to access my files stored on my D: drive from within Ubuntu?

Thanks in advance.

 

15GB is lots

you have the option to create a partition during the install process, but if you have vista I recommend using its built in partitioner since it is easier for beginners (assuming you are a beginner). However, ive never actually used the live cd to install ubuntu so the partitioner with the GUI might be easy enough to learn quick.

assuming your computer can access the D: from windows, then yes, Ubuntu can access it as well.

 

Hmmm I was never able to find Vista's built in partitioner <.< I just used GParted before

 

Vista disk partitioner
Control panel >administrative tools > computer management> storage> Disk management> click on the volume you want to change > go to the right side panel and click on more actions>all tasks

 

Not to take anything away from Vista but, if you're comfortable using gparted (and already have apparently), then I'd use it to do your bidding here.

If it were me, first I'd create an extended partition. Inside of it, I'd create the following partitions:

/ (root) = 5-6 GB
/home = 3-6 GB
/swap = 1 GB will be plenty - any more will be overkill IMO.
*(OPTIONAL) /media/pickaname = how ever large you like - unless you plan to use ntfs3g and share/edit/create files on your vista partitions.

Keeping a separate home partition, is a good idea, for many reasons.

 

well, I tried installing Ubuntu, but it gave me an error saying it could not install grub. any suggestions?

Also, which format would be the best to make the partition?

 

did it give a reason why it couldnt install GRUB?

and use ext3, its the default formatting for linux.

 

I always used about 10Gb for root, 2Gb for my swap(because that's the amount of RAM I have) and the rest for /home. But, yes, 5-6Gb is good enough for root. I put 10 because I have ample space.

If you want to dual boot, it's a little more tricky. Do you have Windows installed already?

 

Do you mean the question at the final step of installation; Advanced?
Choose the partition where Ubuntu needs to go, probably sda2 (sda1 being the NTFS Vista partition).

+1 for EXT3.

 

RieserFS would be a good choice for performance. Ext3 is well tested and mature. I've also heard good things about XFS.

 

Yes I already have windows installed as well as the space on my hrd drive freed up as a separate partition

 

Here's a good guide: http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm

This assumes you have XP installed first. If you have Vista, there's a guide for Vista -> Vista+Ubuntu there as well. If you have any more problems, just ask.

Have fun!

 

Quick question, if I choose guided use the largest contiguous free space and have more free space on one of my other partitions will it use that or the completely empty partition?

when I tried to install it I get this error,

"Unable to install GRUB in (hd0)

Executing 'grub-install (hd0)' failed

This is a fatal error"

 

Always use Manual. This way there will never be problems.

Hmm.. That's odd. When did this error appear? During the "Copying files" part?

 

It's occurred at 94% through the installation 3 times now.

and when I googled it the replies on the ubuntu forum just said try re-installing again so I guess I'll keep trying until it works

well I got it installed after the 6th or 7th time...

 

Hmm.. Try to do a md5 checksum on the iso that you downloaded. If that's ok, burn the iso on a disc again, but use the slowest burn speed. Then try the install again.

Something similar happened to me when I tried my first Ubuntu install. The CD wouldn't autoload in bootup.

On a side note, I always use CD-RWs for my OS cds, so I can burn them over and over. This is especially useful for Ubuntu, who release new OSs every 6 months. I guess it's more economical than using many CD-Rs. If you're already using CD-RWs just ignore this.

 

I dont have any CD-RW's, but I do have like 50 CD-R's so I think I'll use those until they're gone

 

Heh. Quanity sometimes, beats quality hands down.

Zerg rush!

 

Yah, I got a stack of like 100 CD-R's for like $10 I think it was about a year ago.

 

unless you like to keep the old ubuntu releases, i dont know why but i enjoy having a stack of linux cds

 

I dont have a stack of old linus releases, just a couple of them floating around. You never know when you might need a liveCD

 

Aye. That's true. Or to burn and pass to a friend to share the Penguin love.

 

I don't burn CDs any more, too slow to burn and too slow to boot. Just use isotostick.sh and copy them to a USB memory stick and boot/install from that. You only need the image for a little while, no reason to write it to "permanent" storage...

 

But that would mean you'd have to sacrifice your USB for a while. I'd prefer a CD, just in case. And it doesn't take *that* long. You can make a cup of tea or something in the mean time.

 

It takes about 1 or 2 minutes tops to burn a CD, plus I can't seem to find my USB drive <.<

though that would be a good excuse to get a nice new spacious one

 

A 4GB USB stick is like $7 now. I just bought one the other day to supplement my 16GB corsair voyager. For me, writing to the USB stick is still faster than any CD burner, and installing from it is way faster than a spinning CD...

 

I will be trying that usb method when 8.10 comes out

 

hmmmI just looked through my stack of CD's and it seems that I have:

1) Ubuntu 7.04
2) Ubuntu 7.10
3) Ubuntu 8.04 Beta
4) Ubuntu 8.04
5) Ubuntu 8.04

I guess I should check before burning XD

 

How long can you guys go on about stacks of cd's? Seriously.

 

Stacks of CD's lol. Ubuntu 7.1 x3, Kubuntu 7.1 x2. Also Fedora 7 and KDE version, Slax (old) and GParted. (I know the last weren't Ubuntu but oh well )

 

I have like, 3 Ubuntu 8.04 discs lying about, 2 Fedora 9 Core ones, one GNOME, one KDE and Open Suse 11.0, GNOME, there's also a 7.10 Ubuntu CD somewhere, but IDK where.
EMZ=]

 

Lol, I know what you mean I "used" to have a full CD SUSE PRO install. But I'd don't think I'll ever find it again!

 

Is there a way to have 1 DVD-RW or 1 USB have multiple Linux Distro liveCDs? Like installing GRUB in the DVD or USB and just choosing which one to boot?

 

I don't see why not. I have 3 partitions on my 16GB Corsair. One partition has my Windows Vista install image, the 2nd has my Ubuntu LiveCD, and the 3rd is just miscellaneous files.