Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
From: stefmit@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Re: Last hope - really nobody running Minix on a laptop?
References: <37a34c42.19676483@news.usenetserver.com> <FyE$7FADG1o3Ew33@dbqa.demon.co.uk> <37a59426.1178234@news.usenetserver.com> <SU+aSDAvQTp3EweZ@dbqa.demon.co.uk> <37a5bb95.256891059@news.usenetserver.com> <37a86a42.0@news>
X-Newsreader: News Xpress 2.01
Lines: 61
Message-ID: <e01q3.1$pd.131353@IRIS>
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1999 20:08:09 GMT
NNTP-Posting-Host: 207.220.180.17
X-Complaints-To: admin@usenetserver.com
X-Trace: IRIS 933797002 207.220.180.17 (Wed, 04 Aug 1999 13:03:22 PDT)
NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1999 13:03:22 PDT
Organization: UseNet Server, Inc.  http://www.usenetserver.com - Home of the fastest NNTP servers on the Net.
Path: news.adfa.oz.au!clarion.carno.net.au!news0.optus.net.au!news1.optus.net.au!optus!intgwpad.nntp.telstra.net!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!tank.news.pipex.net!pipex!uunet!ams.uu.net!ffx.uu.net!news-in.usenetserver.com!news.usenetserver.com!IRIS.POSTED!nettech

        First - thanks for response and help. Comments in-line:


>The standard hard disk partitioning scheme used by DOS/Windows, Minix,
>and Linux only allows for four primary partitions. The only way I see
>that you could have got two FATs, an NTFS, and both a type 82 and 83
>is if you made the 2nd FAT and the NTFS as logical drives on
>an extended partition.

        You are correct - I have four "primaries", and one of them with two 
logical.

>
>There are four more things you can try if you really want to play
>with Minix:
>
>1. Install a second hard disk. New hard disks are so big these days
>you'll probably find you can get a second-hand 250M or bigger disk for
>very little money from someone who has upgraded.
>

        Have a laptop - not much of an easy choice that I have here

>2. Use Minix under DOS, making a big file in one of the FAT partitions
>to serve as a simulated disk for Minix.
>
        That's actually what I was trying to do before, but I can't find docs 
on how to do that ... ;(

>3. If you are using an extended partition, as I suspect, you can add
>any number of logical partitions if you have free space on the
>extended partition. It isn't standard practice, but Minix has a driver
>to support logical partitions and Minix could be installed on one. Or,
>since Linux also understands logical partitions you might be able to
>make the Linux swap partition on a logical partition.

        Sure will try this one.

>4. Don't use a swap partition for Linux, use a swap file on the same
>disk. Not everyone realizes you can do this, but it works pretty well.
>A swap partition on the same drive as the primary Linux partition is
>not going to perform particularly well, anyway: the disk heads will go
>crazy making large jumps from track to track. If you try solution 1
>you might want to get a second disk large enough for both Minix and
>your Linux swap partition. A swap partition on a second hard disk will
>really fly, because the heads on two drives move independently.

        Performance - I don't think it would be worth it.

>
>--  Al
>
>+----------------------------------+
>| Albert S. Woodhull               |
>| Hampshire College, Amherst, MA   |
>| awoodhull@hampshire.edu          |
>| http://minix1.hampshire.edu/asw/ |
>+----------------------------------+
>94.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot

        Thanks again ... :)
