[TriLUG] Partitioning for n-booting

[Joseph Tate]

Mike Mueller wrote:

> I partitioned the hard disk on my laptop using DOS FDISK.  I created a FAT32 
> partition about 6GB and formatted it. The remainder of the disk was left 
> unpartitioned. 
> 
> I popped in the Toshiba recovery disk and expected it to load into the small 
> partition I created.  Instead, the dang thing re-partitioned and re-formatted 
> the disk into an NTFS partition and ran the Symantec Ghost restore program.
> 
> I think I am stuck with having to buy Partition Magic so I can reduce the 
> NTFS partition so I can load GNU/Linux.  
> 
> The NTFS partition is not well handled by non-Partition Magic 
> re-partitioners.  The recovery disk is not a real XP installer so I don't 
> have options for re-installing.
> 
> Am I missing something?

IIRC, OEMs are required by Microsoft to provide install media if 
requested.  In fact some laptops come with recovery disks (which behave 
as you described) as well as a separate drivers and installation disk. 
You might check again to see if you have another CD, or contact the OEM 
to see if you can acquire the proper media.