SliTaz Forum

knownothing

Member

Registered: 2012-02-24

Posts: 1

Install without partitioning

I'm trying out Slitaz for the first time. I have an old IBM ThinkPad 600 with Windows XP. Windows simply runs too slow. In fact, the computer stopped booting up altogether a couple years ago. It wasn't until I booted it up with Slitaz LiveCD just this morning that suddenly Windows is working again. Anyway, I would just assume get rid of Windows.

The problem is, I cannot seem to partition the hard drive. Even the Slitaz app won't let me do it. There's a good chance it's because Windows requires the entire thing in order to run. It is a very small drive, less than 4 GB.

So, given that I would just as easily dispense with Windows, what might be other ramifications of simply installing Slitaz without partitioning and reformatting the entire drive? I ask because all the instructions I read everywhere seem to say partitioning is sine qua non. Is there a danger other than losing personal files (which I don't have on there anyway)?

bellard

Administrator

Registered: 2011-03-28

Posts: 657

Re: Install without partitioning

Yes:

1- frugal (system fully in RAM, /home may be on disk or not) :

http://doc.slitaz.org/en:guides:frugal#traditional-frugal-install

2- install in a subdirectory :

http://doc.slitaz.org/en:guides:uncommoninst#subdirectory-install-in-a-non-posix-filesystem

3- install in a loop file (not recommended) :

http://doc.slitaz.org/en:guides:uncommoninst#loop-install

Anyway SliTaz live CD have to see your Windows partition (i.e. the hard disk).

I'm affraid it's your real problem.

Ridgeland

Member

Registered: 2012-02-19

Posts: 2

Re: Install without partitioning

I always keep a current copy of SystemRescueCD

http://www.sysresccd.org/SystemRescueCd_Homepage

It's easy to boot from CD and use wizard or startx to get to a GUI then use gparted to set up the hard drive however you want.

With only 4GB of space I would have one partition with Slitaz and hope there will be room for all the packages.  Once the hard drive is right then boot the Slitaz CD.

perple514

Member

Registered: 2012-07-13

Posts: 4

Re: Install without partitioning

Be very careful. Apparently some thinkpads have one of those silly "magic partitions" and removing them might "brick" your laptop (until you restore the partiton, anyway).

Fortunately, it seems that your laptop model doesn't use one, so you should be safe. You might want to have a look at the ThinkWiki for more info. ThinkWiki is essentially a wiki dealing with Linux on Thinkpads, so might have some very useful info on there. Check here for more info: http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Installation_instructions_for_the_ThinkPad_600