Help a linux n00b out

[buzzard34]

OK im taking a class on linux at school and i can get extra credit by installing Redhat 7.2 on my pc. However, I have no clue how to go about installing linux. All i know is that I already have winXP and want to keep it so I need to figure out how to dualboot my pc. I am willing to install linux on a seperate (hard) drive. Any suggestions on how i should do this w/o screwing up windows?? any help would be cool thx

System specs:
AMD 1700+
PC2100 512 MB DDRRAM
epox 8-KHA+
havent updated BIOS since i bought the damn thing (12/12/2001)
Has current drivers for everything hardware
Diamond S80 AGP vid card - 4x mode rite now
WDC 60gb HDD on IDE primary Master
w/ Winxp home w/ SP1
TDK cd burner on IDE secondary Master
Toshiba DVD drive on IDE secondary Slave

I think thats everything...

 

[horndude]

If the second drive is already installed but nothing is on it, just insert the redhat disk and boot up

After boot up you will probably have to use fdisk to create a linux partition and swap partition.

example:
fdisk /dev/hdb hdb=ide cable one, slave drive
/dev/hdc would be second ide cable master drive
/dev/hdd would be second cable slave drive


swap partiton needs to be 2 times RAM or 256mb, more than that isnt needed, type 82

primary partiton should be linux type 83

after that just run thru the setup, redhat 7.x is pretty automated

you will need to know your monitor settings and graphic card #'s so you can get X working

when it comes time to install LILO make a floppy boot disk and use that to boot linux, its safer

 

[buzzard34]

Thanks
should i use GRUB instead of LILO and Disk Druid instead of fdisk tho?

 

[horndude]

ya GRUB and disk druid will work fine