how to install arch linux on part of HDD

psihokiller4 · 2010-07-26 00:06:38

amm... I was trying to install archlinux on part of HDD 100GB arch linux and 50GB windows

first thing was that I installed win

and after that I tried to install arch and I failed and it had made all partitions again and it ruined my windows well now I would try to install arch on part again that I would succeed and after that windows and after that grub boot-loader

1. so my Q is how to install arch only on part of HDD

tomk · 2010-07-26 00:09:49

Please read the Beginners' Guide - everything you need is there.

psihokiller4 · 2010-07-26 00:20:32

are you sure I read it 3 times and didn't find it how exactly should I do it

jasonwryan · 2010-07-26 00:53:13

Try re-reading this bit: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Beginners'_Guide#C:_Prepare_Hard_Drive

And a tip: rather than just asking a mod if he is sure about some help he has given you, it is a good idea to post specific details about what you have tried and how it did or didn't work...

psihokiller4 · 2010-07-26 01:22:01

ok I'll put it this way

I mainly followed this guide as it says more what to do than what should I do http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-to-I … 9239.shtml

I found out that there are more different setups of archlinux
so in my main setup menu I have:

1. Select Source
2. Set clock
3. Prepare Hard Drive(s)
4. Select Packages
5. Install Packages
6. Configure System
7. Install Bootloader
8. Exit Install

(first 2 no problem)

3. Prepare Hard Drive(s)

1. Auto-Prepare (erase an ENTIRE hard drive and sets up partitions, file systems and mountpoints)
2. Manually Partition Hard Drives
3. Manually Configure block devices, filesystems and mountpoints
4. Rollback last filesystem changes (you don't need to do this)
5. Return to main menu

I use 2.

Name             Flags              Part Tipe             FS Type                         [Label]               Size (MB)
sda1             boot               Primary               NTFS                                                  52428,48
sda2                                Primary               Linux swap / Solaris                                  19999,53
sda3             boot               Primary               Linux                                                 87611,77

with this it seems fine but after that I must use 3. Manually Configure block devices, filesystems and mountpoints

dev               directly by /dev/* (most intuitive but devicefile names can change on kernel updates)
label             by Disk-Label (Will use the filesystem labels where you give them, and fall back on 'dev' otherwise)
uuid              by Universally Unique Indentifier (you don't need to do anything, but doesn't look pretty)

after this I'm blind

I get same menu with all 3 options before

/dev/sda      raw->no_fs
/dev/sda1     raw->no_fs
/dev/sda2     raw->no_fs
/dev/sda3     raw->no_fs
Done

and for each one I get:

first

Do you want to have this file system (re)created ? If not, make sure there already is a filesystem!
<Yes>       <No>

swap          Swap
ext2           Ext2
ext3           Ext3
ext4           Ext4
reiserfs       Reiser3
xfs            XFS
jfs            JFS
vfat           VFAT
lvm-pv         LVM_Physical_volume
dm_crypt       DM_crypt_Volume

Last edited by psihokiller4 (2010-07-26 01:31:18)

jasonwryan · 2010-07-26 01:42:09

First - follow tomk's advice and use the official Arch Beginners' Guide - it is a wiki which means that it is updated - and as Arch is a rollling distro, things change...

Next - you are being asked to choose the file types you want on your partitions - again, the Guide has information about the advantages of each file type depending on the mount point. Once you have decided how you want to proceed, you can create your file system...

# edit: that "guide" you linked to is from 2007 - no wonder you were confused!

Last edited by jasonwryan (2010-07-26 01:44:06)

psihokiller4 · 2010-07-26 01:53:19

ok but still I don't understand

what should I use for

/dev/sda      raw->no_fs
/dev/sda1     raw->no_fs

for this 2 I think I'm correct

/dev/sda2     raw->no_fs - swap if I'm correct
/dev/sda3     raw->no_fs - ext2

yes on wiki has mentioned about

swap
ext2
ext3
ext4

/dev/sda1 is partition number 1
/dev/sda2 is partition number 2

and what is

/dev/sda

Last edited by psihokiller4 (2010-07-26 01:57:37)

alexandrite · 2010-07-26 02:07:55

psihokiller4 wrote:

ok but still I don't understand
what should I use for
/dev/sda      raw->no_fs
/dev/sda1     raw->no_fs
for this 2 I think I'm correct
/dev/sda2     raw->no_fs - swap if I'm correct
/dev/sda3     raw->no_fs - ext2
yes on wiki has mentioned about
swap
ext2
ext3
ext4

/dev/sda1 is partition number 1
/dev/sda2 is partition number 2

and what is
/dev/sda

AIF doesn't change anything you don't tell it to change, so for paritions you aren't going to mess with (like the windows part) just don't do anything to it.

Also, /dev/sda is the drive itself. /dev/sda1 etc are the partitions on the drive.

psihokiller4 · 2010-07-26 02:14:36

so what exactly hapens if I mess around with /dev/sda (the drive it self) as the setup gives me that ability

if I'd let say made it ext2

would erase whole disc and make it ext2 filesystem?

fsckd · 2010-07-26 02:18:02

I guess so. You are aware there's no need for partitioning, right?

psihokiller4 · 2010-07-26 02:22:48

hmmm... going forward got some other stuff

new menu for ext2

/         root
/boot     files for booting
/home     home dirictories
/var      variable files
/tmp      temporary files
custom    enter a custom mountpoint

according to this document:
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Win … _Dual_Boot

sda3 should be: /root ???

fsckd · 2010-07-26 02:23:43

Yes.

Edit: Well, / not /root.

Last edited by fsckd (2010-07-26 02:24:10)

psihokiller4 · 2010-07-26 02:23:48

fsckd wrote:

I guess so. You are aware there's no need for partitioning, right?

ammm...... no
how?

going to goolge

psihokiller4 · 2010-07-26 02:41:30

fsckd wrote:

Yes.
Edit: Well, / not /root.

but I have only this on my menu

/         root
/boot     files for booting
/home     home dirictories
/var      variable files
/tmp      temporary files
custom    enter a custom mountpoint

ok new problem if I do it to this way this wiki says

only 4 primary partitions are max for each HDD

so I do

according to this doc:
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Win … _Dual_Boot

sda1 primary
sda2 primary

what about this 3 witch two logical or all 3?
sda3
sda4
sda5

Last edited by psihokiller4 (2010-07-26 02:42:32)

psihokiller4 · 2010-07-26 02:48:56

and witch FS type should I give to all of them except sda1 that I leave alone

all linux except swap that's linux swap / solaris?

Last edited by psihokiller4 (2010-07-26 02:49:28)

fsckd · 2010-07-26 02:57:48

A bit of clarification, one primary will be used as extended for the logical partitions. For example,
sda1 primary
sda2 primary
sda3 extended
sda5 logical
sda6 logical
sda4 primary

Anyhow, swap doesn't have to be on a primary. You should put /boot on a primary partition, depending on the bootloader you use.

The filesystem type depends on what you'll be using it for. In general, ext4 seems good.

psihokiller4 · 2010-07-26 03:13:47

now I'm completelly confused

1. it doesn't want to make me an extended trough Type (5)
2. I don't understand what you ment with sda4 and I tried to make it 4. primary and I couldn't
edit:
___________
3. if I make 4 primaries I cannot make any logical any more

and witch FS Type should be ever sda?

Last edited by psihokiller4 (2010-07-26 03:15:47)

fsckd · 2010-07-26 03:26:02

Sorry if I've confused you. Let me try again.

Don't touch sda. Ignore it as suggested above.

You are correct, if you make 4 primaries you can't make any logicals.

Regarding sda4, Logical partitions are stored in primaries. That was all I was saying. Sda3 will be taken for logicals.

First, you should decide how you want to split the filesystems across multiple partitions. You don't have to separate /usr, /var, or anything else if you do not want to. For example, on my machine I only have /var, /boot and /. It is really up to you. There are quite a lot of ways to split things depending on the needs of the user.

Last edited by fsckd (2010-07-26 03:26:38)

psihokiller4 · 2010-07-26 03:43:19

Name             Flags              Part Tipe             FS Type                         [Label]               Size (MB)
sda1             boot               Primary               NTFS                                                  52428,48
sda2             boot               Primary               Linux                                                 499.01
sda3                                Primary               Linux                                                 19999.39
sda5                                Logical               Linux swap / Solaris                                  2000.39
sda6                                Logical               Linux                                                 85112.38

I want to write it but now I have a problem and it says:
More than one primary partition is marked bootable. DOS MBR cannot boot this.

but if I want 2 systems to be bootable I have to have 2 partitions to be bootable right?

edit:
but before I could write 2 bootable partitions when I had 3 primaries

Last edited by psihokiller4 (2010-07-26 03:46:14)

fsckd · 2010-07-26 03:49:56

You don't need to mark Arch as bootable.

psihokiller4 · 2010-07-26 12:51:44

hmmm......

problem again
well I did it this way

Name             Flags              Part Tipe             FS Type                         [Label]               Size (MB)
sda1             boot               Primary               NTFS                                                  52428,48
sda2                                Primary               Linux                                                 499.01
sda3                                Primary               Linux                                                 19999.39
sda5                                Logical               Linux swap / Solaris                                  2000.39
sda6                                Logical               Linux                                                 85112.38

next is manual...

dev               directly by /dev/* (most intuitive but devicefile names can change on kernel updates)
label             by Disk-Label (Will use the filesystem labels where you give them, and fall back on 'dev' otherwise)
uuid              by Universally Unique Indentifier (you don't need to do anything, but doesn't look pretty)

after this I use menu (dev directly by /dev/* (most intuitive but devicefile names can change on kernel updates) )

sda  = raw->no_fs
sda1 = raw->no_fs
sda2 = ext2 - /boot
sda3 = ext3 - /                   root
sda5 = swap
sda6 = ext3 - /home

when it asks for name I say cancel

done (it's first time I got trough this menu manually)
next menu

select packages

I select base and none more (default)

install packages

configure system

nano (easier)
I use default and go trough (done)

install Bootloader
Grub use the GRUB bootloader (default)

I leave the edit as it is and exit

and I install it on

sda2

Exit Install

reboot and

Error loading operating system

fsckd · 2010-07-26 13:17:36

Hmm, not sure what you did there but it seems your MBR is gone. Try reinstalling grub to sda and not sda2. You don't have to restart the whole setup again. Just boot the live cd and follow the instructions here: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GRU … stallation .

edit: Or were you wanting to use Windows' bootloader? In which case you'd put grub on sda2 and you would need to fix Windows' bootloader.

Last edited by fsckd (2010-07-26 13:21:42)

psihokiller4 · 2010-07-31 14:31:37

ammm... I started a new install as I saw MBR should be on 1. partition so I did it this way now so I wouldn't mess with windows I puted windows on the end

install windoes:
deleted all partitions:
and make it like this:

partition1:  209.20    MB
free space:  104647.77 MB
partition2:  55180.65  MB
free space:  2.18      MB

I did it this like as I saw MBR always comes in beginning of HDD and I rewrite 1. partition with linux bootloader

Name             Flags              Part Tipe             FS Type                         [Label]               Size (MB)
sda1             boot               Primary               Linux                                                 209.20
sda3                                Primary               Linux                                                 19999.53
sda5                                Logical               Linux swap / Solaris                                  2000.39
sda6                                Logical               Linux                                                 82647.85
sda7                                Logical               NTFS                            [^F]                  55180.65
                                    Pri/Log               Free Space                                            2.18

next is

Manually Configure block devices, filesystems and mountpoints

dev               directly by /dev/* (most intuitive but devicefile names can change on kernel updates)
label             by Disk-Label (Will use the filesystem labels where you give them, and fall back on 'dev' otherwise)
uuid              by Universally Unique Indentifier (you don't need to do anything, but doesn't look pretty)

after this I use menu

dev               directly by /dev/* (most intuitive but devicefile names can change on kernel updates)

sda  = raw->no_fs
sda1 = ext2 - /boot
sda2 = raw->no_fs
sda3 = ext3 - /                   root
sda5 = swap
sda6 = ext3 - /home
sda7 = raw->no_fs

when it asks for name I say cancel

done

Return to Main Menu

select packages

I select base and none more (default)

install packages

configure system

nano (easier)

I use default and go trough (done)

install Bootloader

Grub use the GRUB bootloader (default)

I leave the edit as it is and exit

and I install it on

sda1

Exit Install

reboot and

at least I have archlinux now
but my windows don't work

ok at beginning:
I did it this like as I saw MBR always comes in beginning of HDD and I rewrite 1. partition with linux bootloader

so how do I reedit the grub bootloader so both OS will be available at start point?

Last edited by psihokiller4 (2010-07-31 14:38:00)

ThunderGod · 2010-07-31 14:44:54

You need to manually edit the /boot/grub/menu.lst (as root) I think. in your case, just add the lines

title Windows
rootnoverify (hd0,6)
makeactive
chainloader +1

Then simply reboot and Windows should work.

Last edited by ThunderGod (2010-07-31 14:45:35)

lilsirecho · 2010-07-31 16:18:48

Perhaps the confusion illustrated within this thread is more general than specific to this user and the beginners guide might well be more illustrative for such complex operations.

Most comments concerning these difficulties for new users come from persons familiar with the system and its vagaries whereas the new user is not sufficiently aware of the inherent requirements which must be met to successfully arrange his system parameters.

One such item mentioned in the thread permits swap to be on a logical partition but the beginners guide does not refer to such an arrangement and provides a primary partition for swap automatically in the case of auto-partition. This "wastes" a primary and the possible extended option for that primary for some possible partition schemes.

The statement that " arch doesn't need a bootflag" is not apparent even to this old-timer!

To be sure, I haven't been installing windows along with arch every day of the year and have never installed the two together on a drive. I appreciate the confusion that new installers have in doing such as a first time activity. This is especially true if extended partitions are involved.

I am impressed with the efforts made by this user in setting up his complex system and the "learning curve" he has experienced. His example should be emulated by new archers and they will receive the support from the community shown by this thread.

Have a good day.................

EDIT: As an example of confusion see also:https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=102018

Last edited by lilsirecho (2010-07-31 16:40:11)

Arch Linux

#1 2010-07-26 00:06:38

how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#2 2010-07-26 00:09:49

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#3 2010-07-26 00:20:32

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#4 2010-07-26 00:53:13

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#5 2010-07-26 01:22:01

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#6 2010-07-26 01:42:09

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#7 2010-07-26 01:53:19

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#8 2010-07-26 02:07:55

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#9 2010-07-26 02:14:36

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#10 2010-07-26 02:18:02

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#11 2010-07-26 02:22:48

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#12 2010-07-26 02:23:43

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#13 2010-07-26 02:23:48

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#14 2010-07-26 02:41:30

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#15 2010-07-26 02:48:56

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#16 2010-07-26 02:57:48

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#17 2010-07-26 03:13:47

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#18 2010-07-26 03:26:02

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#19 2010-07-26 03:43:19

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#20 2010-07-26 03:49:56

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#21 2010-07-26 12:51:44

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#22 2010-07-26 13:17:36

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#23 2010-07-31 14:31:37

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#24 2010-07-31 14:44:54

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

#25 2010-07-31 16:18:48

Re: how to install arch linux on part of HDD

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