Partitions Question

OK im useing WinXP (NTFS) and linux. I want to format my HD but before i do i want to create a logical partition so that i can save files to it and so i wont lose them when i format my XP and nix partitions. After the format i plan on saveing all my work and music to this partiton so that it acts like a central store of data that BOTH win and linux can access and read from. What would be the best file format to use when i make this logical partition. Im favouriing FAT32 atm cos i know NTFS is very dodgy to write to from Linux, with the current 2.4 Kernel.

I have a similar setup using Fat32 and Ext3 partitions. I automount my Fat32 partitions so I can access my mp3 files in winxcrap. No problems. I have access to my tmp files in Linux from wxcrap.

Try it:D

You can have up to 4 primary partitions, or 3 primaries and a secondary that can contain (unknown number of) logical drives.

I say go with 4 primary partitions - 1 NTFS for WinXP, 1 Fat32 for shared usage, 1 ext3 for linux (mount: /) and 1 swap filesystem for linux.

Set up Windows first, and set up only the NTFS partition (decide how big it will be.) Then you can install linux, set up the other partitions in the remaining disk space, and install the bootloader nicely too.

That's what I'd do anyway - others might have a different method.

unts's method is the best. It is what I use as well. crap-ppp (xp) does not like to install on a hdd when there is a non-microsoft os installed. Anyway. Linux bootloaders are SsSsssoooooO much better.