Do I need to format my harddrive to install linux? (FoxLinux)?

Question

If so how do I do this?

Answer 1

Yes, you need to format it in the linux format (ext3).

Answer 2

Not really... u can use a software to resize your windows partition (fat32)... for example partition magic. Let's say your partition is 120 Gb, you resize it to 100, then u use the other 20 unformatted Gb for your linux OS. The installation of the OS should format your 20 Gb to ext2, ext3 or reiserFS. BE CAREFUL... any wrong step and u loose data! Be sure u use the unformatted space, and not your windows partition! If everything goes right, you should have a dual-boot system. When you start your PC, you choose what OS to run from a list that is atutomatically installed (when you install Linux). Good luck, you need it if you don't have experience with Linux. My advice is to ask someone that knows a little thing or two about this to come and install the OS for you.

Answer 3

Yes and no. Yes, if you want to install a Linux distro as the only OS in your computer. No, if you want Dual-Boot with other OS. In this case, you need to create and/or format a partition for Linux. Most distro's instalation program will help you manage your hard-drive partitions with interactive or automatic way.

Answer 4

If you want to run a dual-boot system, then ideally you need to creat a partition on the disk specifically for linux. Most linux distros can set up the partition into the right filesystem for you, but you may need a program like partition magic to create a partition without losing any existing data.

Answer 5

You will either need to completely reformat the hard drive which the installer for foxlinux should do for you or you will need to create partitions on your drive.

Each partition would act as if it was a different drive, some linux distributions will be able to handle this for you by choosing use available space or you can use partitionmagic.

before making partitions it is best to defrgment the hard drive.