Ubuntu install question, on Dell 1420 w/ Media Direct

[jten9]

Hi All,

I searched the forums and found some guides and answers, but wanted to clarify since I am a Linux newbie and this is my first time installing Ubuntu in a dual boot configuration with Vista (I have only installed Ubuntu and Xubuntu on machines as the only OS)

So here goes- I have a Dell Inspiron 1420. The 160 gig hard drive is currently partitioned with a 47MB eisa partition, 146 GB primary for Vista, 3 GB primary (backup/restore?), and the 2.5 GB (hidden) media direct partition. 4 total partitions.

I plan to shrink the vista partition and adjust the others to make room for Ubuntu. I read on these forums (but can't find it now) that someone installed Ubuntu on the Media Direct partition by expanding it and making it a primary partition, and put the swap in the old backup partition. He said that by doing this, pressing the mediadirect button boots Ubuntu, while the power putton still boots vista.

I have backup disks so I have no problem with removing the backup partition, and would prefer to remove media direct since I have never used it and don't plan to.

Would this configuration theoretically work? This would mean that GRUB would be on the same partition as Ubuntu... any drawbacks there?

TIA for any advice/input!

--EDIT--

OK, the more I search, the more it looks like getting rid of the HPA partition/media direct is a big pain... so, looking for suggestions on partitioning? I suppose I'd like to keep the diagnostic partition, and of course the vista partition. If I also keep the HPA/media direct partition, that only leaves me with 1 partition (need 2) for both Ubuntu and the swap??

-John

[Fittersman]

well, i dont know anything about the dell media direct stuff but i can give you some advice on partitioning your hard drive.

1) always make a separate /home partition
2) if you dont have enough primary partitions left for the install, use logical partitions. So far I haven't noticed any difference in how they operate (maybe someone else could verify this)
3) i personally think swap space is completely useless if you have more than 2GB of memory (unless you want to use the hibernate function)

your / partition should be at least 5gb and /home should be as large as you want it (it is where all your files will be stored)

[jten9]

Ok, thanks for the advice, seems to make sense. I wasn't sure about the primary vs. logical partition thing.

So, I guess I could partition as follows:
1) primary Dell utilities
2) primary vista
3) primary Ubuntu
3a) logical home
3b) logical swap
4) mediadirect

Does that make any sense? Any other thoughts?

Thanks in advance, again!

[jten9]

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but...

I'm a bit confused still as how to partition. I was a bit wrong before, my partitions look like the following, if I am reading Gparted correctly:

1) primary 47MB, Dell utilities
2) primary 146GB, vista
3) extended 3GB
3a) logical 3GB (media direct)

So, wondering if I should install Ubuntu on a new primary partition, and swap on a logical partition? So it would look something like this.....

1) primary 47MB, Dell utilities
2) primary 135GB, vista
3) primary 10GB Ubuntu
4) extended 4GB
4a) logical 3GB (media direct)
4b) logical 1GB SWAP for ubuntu

This doesn't even allow for an /home, if I wanted to add that, do it on another logical partition?

I attached my current config using Gparted.

TIA for any input!

[Fittersman]

well, what i would do is leave everything how it is except shrink the vista partition (leaving you with some unallocated space that can be used with ubuntu)

then, i would create an extended partition using all of that unallocated space left over from shinking vista.

then, use that new extended partition to create your /, /home and swap if you want.

[jten9]

Fittersman thanks again for your response.

Your scenario above makes sense, but I thought one could only have one extended partition? Media direct is already on an extended partition, and I don't want to cause any problems with the media direct button, as it seems many others have encountered.

If I can have more than one extended partition, then your scenario sounds like a nice easy solution.

On a different note, anyone know what happens if I format the current extended partition that contains media direct (I don't use it) and use it for ubuntu?

Thanks again!!

[Fittersman]

as far as i know you can have as many extended partitions as you want

and if you dont use media direct and you format that partition i think it just loses media direct, nothing else is broken except media direct (not 100% sure on that though, never had a dell before)

[jten9]

Following is just an update, I think I'm all set, thanks for the help!

I ended up partitioning as follows:

1) primary Vista
2) primary /home Ubuntu
3) primary / Ubuntu
4) extended:
4a) swap
4b) Mediadirect

The main issue (and sounds like a common one) is the mediadirect partition. Since I have version 3.3, I thought I would try to just format that partition to try to delete Mediadirect (I also deleted all traces on my C.

Well, upon pressing the mediadirect direct button, it proceeded to crash all the partitions on my HD. So, I ended up reinstalling it and just leaving it there.

Anyway, all is working well, thanks for the help.