Partitioning Using cfdisk

Aside from the time spent on the installation of a text-based install of Linux (for the unfamiliar) partitioning the hard drive is usually the biggest challenge. Experts tell newbies to put home in a separate partition. Others tmp or var. They tend to make the install all the more painful for folks who will never utilize the benefits of the more complicated partitioning they suggest.

What you really need are just 2 partitions. One to hold Linux. One for a swap partition (like "virtual memory" on Windows.) Granted, tooling around cfdisk can be awkward to the uninitiated, but what needs to be dome is rather simple.


Start cfdisk by typing cfdisk

If you are installing Linux standalone -- without any other system on the same disk, then delete any partitions present on the cfdisk screen.

Make a new partition, taking up all but 100-500 MB of the disk.

Make this partition bootable

The default type is "Linux", so that partition is done.

Next, make another new partition, taking up the rest of the drive.

Change it's type to 82, Linux Swap

Write the table to disk

Quit

You are done.