At this point you need to choose where on your hard drive to install your Mandrake Linux operating system. If your hard drive is empty or if an existing operating system is using all the space available, you will need to partition it. Basically, partitioning a hard drive consists of logically dividing it to create space to install your new Mandrake Linux system.
Because the effects of the partitioning process are usually irreversible, partitioning can be intimidating and stressful if you are an inexperienced user. Fortunately, there is a wizard which simplifies this process. Before beginning, please consult the manual and take your time.
If you are running the install in Expert mode, you will enter DiskDrake, the Mandrake Linux partitioning tool, which allows you to fine-tune your partitions. See the DiskDrake chapter of the manual. From the installation interface, you can use the wizards as described here by clicking the Wizard button of the dialog.
If partitions have already been defined, either from a previous installation or from another partitioning tool, simply select those to install your Linux system.
If partitions are not defined, you will need to create them using the wizard. Depending on your hard drive configuration, several options are available:
Use free space: this option will simply lead to an automatic partitioning of your blank drive(s). You will not be prompted further.
Use existing partition: the wizard has detected one or more existing Linux partitions on your hard drive. If you want to use them, choose this option.
Use the free space on the Windows partition: if Microsoft Windows is installed on your hard drive and takes all the space available on it, you have to create free space for Linux data. To do that, you can delete your Microsoft Windows partition and data (see "Erase entire disk" or "Expert mode" solutions) or resize your Microsoft Windows partition. Resizing can be performed without the loss of any data. This solution is recommended if you want to use both Mandrake Linux and Microsoft Windows on same computer.
Before choosing this option, please understand that after this procedure, the size of your Microsoft Windows partition will be smaller than at the present time. You will have less free space under Microsoft Windows to store your data or to install new software.
Erase entire disk: if you want to delete all data and all partitions present on your hard drive and replace them with your new Mandrake Linux system, choose this option. Be careful with this solution because you will not be able to revert your choice after confirmation.
![]() | If you choose this option, all data on your disk will be lost. |
Remove Windows: this will simply erase everything on the drive and begin fresh, partitioning everything from scratch. All data on your disk will be lost.
![]() | If you choose this option, all data on your disk will be lost. |
Expert mode: choose this option if you want to manually partition your hard drive. Be careful - it is a powerful but dangerous choice. You can very easily lose all your data. Hence, do not choose this unless you know what you are doing.